Sub Purcell toast of Fergal's
St Fergal's 1-12 Abbey CC 0-11
It was about his only real piece of action, but sub Michael Purcell made a super contribution when he smashed home a brilliant 58th-minute goal as St Fergal's, Rathdowney secured their first title since 2000 in Thomastown yesterday.
Purcell's stunning strike halted Abbey CS, Ferrybank in their tracks after they had battled bravely to pare back a deficit of five points to the minimum after the break.
The winners eventually put together an interval lead of 0-8 to 0-5, but they made hard work of it as they conceded too many scores from frees. Eoin Kenny grabbed all the losers first-half scores, four from frees.
After the turn, the deadly Aidan Corby took hold of the game for the winners and with Colin Fitzpatrick, Colm Stapleton and Jack Kelly lending strong support, they retained control. They were five points clear before Abbey put in their strong but futile burst.
Scorers -- St Fergal's: M Kavanagh 0-5 (3f), A Corby 0-4 (4f), M Purcell 1-0, C Fitzpatrick 0-2, S Phelan 0-1. Abbey CC: E Kenny 0-9 (8f), MJ Sutton (1f), M Costello 0-1 each.
St Fergal's -- D Brennan; R Phelan, C Stapleton, C Quinlan; C Kilbane, L O'Connell, J Kelly; S Bergin, E Fitzpatrick; A Corby, C Fitzpatrick, L Cleere; M Kavanagh, P Phelan, S Phelan. Sub: M Purcell for P Phelan.
Abbey CC -- J Brown; D Irish, S Harney, D Griffin; L O'Donovan, MJ Sutton, R O'Hanlon; D O'Dwyer, M Costello; R Carew, E Kenny, J Lawless; J Ahearn, M Cooke, E McKenna. Sub: J O'Brien for J Lawless.
Ref -- P Kehoe (Carlow).
Irish Independent
