Brereton's double helps St Kevin's lift first Junior title since 1976
St Kevin's players and young fans celebrate their Tom Cross Junior Football Championship win at Cedral St Conleths Park. Photo: James Lawlor
St Kevins booked an immediate return to the Intermediate Championship after they eventually overpowered a hugely motivated Cappagh side in the final stages.
It was the Staplestown outfit’s first title at this level since 1976 and their first county title since winning the Intermediate in 2008.
Cappagh, who were looking for their first title at this level and playing in just their third final, more than played their part in a hugely entertaining game with the excellent Jack Mulligan contributing 11 points and the game was very much in the melting pot in the closing stages.
After Brian McNally fisted an equalising score for Cappagh in the 48th minute, the sides were tied for the next nine minutes until eventual man of the match Declan Flaherty kicked his fourth point of the game.
That was quickly followed Dylan Brereton lashing home his second goal of the game and despite Cappagh’s best efforts there was no way back from there.
Mulligan’s two pointer got Cappagh off to a flying start but Kevins worked their way into the game and after Flaherty’s third point, Conor Murray hit the net to make it 1-5 to 0-4 in the 23rd minute.
However, Cappagh went in on level terms at the break after two-pointers from Cathal Doyle and then a free from Mulligan.
Jamie O’Brien and Dean Brennan swapped points early in the second half before Cappagh surged ahead through a Mulligan free and then a 38th minute well taken goal by Brian McNally.
Crucially, Kevin’s struck back with a goal of their own a minute later through a tremendous strike by James Ralph.
Dylan Brereton scored Kevin’s third goal but the gallant Cappagh side were still right until the closing two minutes when Breteton lashed home his second goal to finally seal the win.
Keith Fitzharris; Enda Keane, Diarmid Smyth, Alan Bennett, Niall Keane, Mark Grace 0-1, Kevin McNamee; Jamie Smyth 0-1, James Ralph 1-0; Declan Flaherty 0-4, Dylan Brereton 2-0, Ciaran Smyth, Jamie O’Brien 0-1, Conor Murray 1-0, Barry Noone 0-2fs. Subs: Conor Gordon for Bennett, 37; Kevin Ward for Murray, 37; Tom Barron for C Smyth, 55; Cormac Noone for B Noone, 55.
Paddy Haslam; Evan Farrell, Sam Sheahan, Oisin O’Cuill, Glen Carter, Shane Smith, Brian McNally 1-1; David Lovely, Darragh Devine; Dean Brennan, Shane Donohue, Enan McAuley, Cathal Doyle 0-3 (1tp), James Grogan, Jack Mulligan 0-11 (1tp,1tpf, 4fs). Subs: Thomas Jackman for Brennan, 44; Toby McMoreland for Grogan, 48; Ollie Lewis for McAuley, 58.
Brendan Cawley.
