Brereton brace wins JFC title for St Kevin’s after county final classic with Cappagh

St Kevin’s made their immediate return to the Intermediate championship with a win over Cappagh in the Tom Cross JFC final. Kevin’s last lifted a Junior title in ‘76 when Rocky hit theatres and they could create their own Balboaian story should they replicate what they achieved in the 1970s when they followed their JFC title with an Intermediate crown in ‘79.

In the Leinster Leader’s preview of this fixture, Cappagh’s Jack Mulligan was highlighted as a talismanic figure and he showed that from the first whistle with two scores in the game’s opening minutes.

The first a fine curling effort from outside the arc which raised the roof after just 60 seconds and the second a confident set-piece after his side turned the ball over in the middle of the field. Cappagh came flying out of the blocks and that start could be sensed before Brendan Cawley threw the ball in with Paddy Madigan putting his charges through a break-neck speed warm-up.

Declan O’Flaherty opened the pre-match favourites’ account and Cappagh led 0-3 to 0-1 past the 10-minute mark.

Jamie Smyth drew the gap back to one when a long ball into the box found the roaming midfielder to punch over, but Mulligan was on hand soon after to slot another early free.

Barry Noone was on target from a St Kevin’s set-piece and there was drama abound when Dean Brennan misplaced a pass forward which was ill-advisedly batted down by a black shirt into the path of James Grogan, St Kevin’s recovered to avoid the concession of what would have been an embarrassing goal.

Moments after that kerfuffle Kevin’s were level when O’Flaherty picked up his second point.

It was then St Kevin’s turn to pass up a goal chance when the ball broke to Barry Noone and left him one-on-one with Paddy Haslam. Noone opted to go Haaland instead of Clifford and his effort off the deck struck the outside of the post.

After Jamie O’Brien put them ahead for the first time, Phillip Casey’s side did find the net when Conor Murray and O’Flaherty combined brilliantly before the former punched into the corner to complete a slick team move.

Cappagh responded to the setback and the coming Kevin’s push brilliantly with Cathal Doyle producing a beautiful strike from outside the arc.

The trailing side were level when they raised their third orange flag of the opening half thanks to the man who got their first Jack Mulligan.

His latest stellar set-piece meant the sides went in at half-time level at 1-5 to 0-8 following a cracking half of football.

Declan O’Flaherty was back at it after the restart and he gave everyone in the stands a perfect view of his third point.

Jack Mulligan levelled the game before this county final really began to take flight. Cappagh replicated the St Kevin’s playbook and put together an excellent team move with passing through the hands which finished with Brian McNally finding the net.

Cappagh’s four-point lead was short-lived with Kevin’s raising a green flag inside the same minute. Their determined counter worked its way to one of their best in the form of James Ralph who cut across the ball and rifled it into the far corner.

It was two sluggers going at it at this stage and it was Cappagh’s turn to land a couple of blows with two sharp scores to restore their lead. Doyle and Mulligan were on hand to have their side ahead 1-12 to 2-6 in the 42nd minute.

This JFC final’s goal craze was finished there however with St Kevin’s again getting down the left side of the Cappagh defence and, from similar territory to Ralph, Dylan Brereton cut inside and buried the ball into the top of the onion bag as this titanic battle took another turn.

Goalscorer Brian McNally levelled for Cappagh and this county final was level at 1-13 to 3-7 with 10 minutes remaining. There was brief reprieve from the dizzying action in the minutes that followed the wing-back restoring parity.

Stalwart Declan O’Flaherty side-footed over from a tight angle to give St Kevin's the edge with four to go but it was Dylan Brereton getting his second goal and his side’s fourth that won them this game. A mishit shot from range broke St Kevin’s way and it was Kevin Ward who slipped in Brereton to blast the ball past the Cappagh stopper. Brereton stood still and roared in celebration at his crucial contribution.

The brilliant Mark Grace had the gap out to five and, with the game already sewn up, Jack Mulligan nailed one final two-point free to cap an exemplary performance from the Cappagh forward, but it was St Kevin’s night as they finished 4-9 to 1-15 winners to become Kildare Junior football champions.

St Kevin’s: Dylan Brereton 2-0, Declan O’Flaherty 0-4, Conor Murray 1-0, James Ralph 1-0, Barry Noone 0-2 (0-2 frees), Jamie Smyth 0-1, Jamie O’Brien 0-1, Mark Grace 0-1.

Cappagh: Jack Mulligan 0-11 (0-8 frees, 1 x 2pt, 2 x 2ptf), Brian McNally 1-1, Cathal Doyle 0-3 (1 x 2pt).

ST KEVIN’S: Keith Fitzharris; Enda Keane, Diarmuid Smyth, Alan Bennett; Niall Keane, Mark Grace, Kevin McNamee; Jamie Smyth, James Ralph; Declan O’Flaherty, Dylan Brereton, Ciaran Smyth; Jamie O’Brien, Conor Murray, Barry Noone. Subs: Kevin Ward for Conor Murray (36 minutes), Conor Gordon for Alan Bennett (36 minutes), Tom Barron for Ciaran Smyth (55 minutes), Cormac Noone for Barry Noone (55 minutes).

CAPPAGH: Paddy Haslam; Evan Farrell, Sam Sheahan, Oisin O’Cuill; Glen Carter, Shane Smith, Brian McNally; David Lovely, Darragh Devine; Dean Brennan, Shane Donohue, Enán McAuley; Cathal Doyle, Jack Mulligan. Subs: Thomas Jackman for Dean Brennan (43 minutes), Toby McMoreland for James Grogan (47 minutes), Ollie Lewis for Enán McAuley (56 minutes).

Referee: Brendan Cawley