By james art 
CLINICAL St Kieran’s put in a compelling performance to edge out Mungret St Paul’s 1-18 to 0-6 in their The Woodlands House Hotel County Junior B Football Championship Final was played in Askeaton on Sunday afternoon.
St Kierans, who were appearing in their first Junior ‘B’ Grade County Final, set the stage for this impressive success in the first half after which the West Limerick side had a substantial 1-8 to 0-2 advantage.
The winners, who moved the ball with great purpose, composure and accuracy, led 1-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes, their goal coming in the ninth minute after a powerful burst through the heart of the Mungret St Paul’s defense and a clinical finish from Jack O ‘Sullivan.
It could have been different for Mungret St Paul’s as they were denied a goal in the opening minute when St Kieran’s keeper Con Enright did superbly to block shots from Conor Garvey and Darragh Hogan.
Conor O’Halloran opened Mungret St Paul’s account in the 10th minute. However, St Kieran’s, backed by several players who have impressed at senior level for the club over the years, hit three points on a spin from Fionn Gleeson, the hugely influential Luke Corrigan from a free kick and another leading light in their victory, the experienced Anthony Molino , again from a placed ball.
The winners boasted a nice mix of youth and experience in their side and it proved to be a perfect combination in this crucial tournament.
Mungret St Paul’s captain Muiris Ahern scored a second for the town side before half-time. However, St Cairns led by nine points at the break when another leading light in their success, Jack Ben Harnett, scored his first score of the competition.
Any hopes Mungret St Paul’s may have had of a second-half comeback all but vanished when their opponents hit them with a four-point run on the bounce just after the restart from Corrigan with two, including a crushing effort from play, as well as scores from Cathal McEnery and Harnett.
With their former senior inter-county player Jonny McCarthy anchoring the defense impressively, St Kieran’s were in control.
Brian O’Meara and O’Halloran did add points for Mungret-St Paul’s at the three-quarter stage, but St Kieran’s were never in danger of losing control of the contest.
Points followed from Harnett, Corrigan, a free, reserves Seamus Mangan and Oisin Commane, man of the match Donie Nolan and McEnery again as St Kieran’s, who had earlier won the County League title and West Division Championship, wrapped up a famous win .
GOALKEEPER: St. Cairns: Luke Corrigan 0-5 (0-4 frees), Anthony Molino 0-4 (0-2 frees), Jack Ben Harnett 0-3, Jack O’Sullivan 1-0, Cathal McEnery 0-2, Fionn Gleeson, Donnie Nolan , Oisin Ryan, Seamus Mangan, Oisin Commane 0-1 each.
Mungret St. Paul: Conor O’Halloran 0-3, Brian O’Meara, Noel Kelly (free), Muiris Ahern 0-1 each.
ST KIERAN’S: Con Enright; Mike Upton, John Doyle, Michael Murphy; James O’Connor (capt), Johnny McCarthy, Fionn Gleeson; Jack O’Sullivan, Donnie Nolan; Cathal McEnery, Jack Ben Harnett, Ray Cahill; Luke Corrigan, Oisin Ryan, Anthony Molino. subtitles: Seamus Mangan for Cahill (injured 24 mins), Ian Mackesy for Upton (37 mins), Shane Fitzgerald for Oisin Ryan (42 mins), Shane Lynch for Doyle (50 mins), Oisin Comman for Gleeson (57 mins).
MUNGRET ST PAUL’S: Eoin O’Hagan, Sean O’Dea, Gearoid Hanrahan, Evan McInerney; Brian Hassett, Brian O’Meara, James Corcoran; Darragh Johnson, Michael Uvace; Darragh Hogan, Liam Lynch, Muiris Ahern (capt); Peter Harrington, Conor Garvey, Conor O’Halloran. subtitles: Willie Staunton for Darragh Hogan (half-time), Adam Coffey for Harrington, Sean Gallagher for O’Dea (both 35 mins), Noel Kelly for Garvey (42 mins), Addie Hanley for Johnson (50 mins).
JUDGE: Paul McMahon (South Liberties)