1991 - U-21 Championship
Final
Superior St Brendan's Retain Crown
O'Neill The Inspiration In Big Win
St Brendan's 3-12 ....... St Mary's 1-8 
St
Brendan's captured the 1991 Offaly under 21 title when they scored a comfortable
10 point victory over St Mary's at windswept Rath on Sunday last. Inspired by
the superb Oisin O'Neill, who scored seven great points, they made full use
of the elements when they had them in the first half and hurled intellingently
when facing into the wind after the interval.
St Mary's battled gamely but after falling six points behind after just four minutes they never got close enough to St Brendan's after that to seriously trouble them. When they got the wind behind them they found it too difficult to break down a resolute St Brendan's defence and when their goal came it was too late to make any significant difference.
A goal after only two minutes set St Brendan's on their way and they led by 1-10 to 0-1 at half time. They weathered the early second half storm from St Mary's, who had only made a minor indentation into their lead when the winners scored their second goal 12 minutes from the end to virtually seal the issue. Goal number three came five minutes later and although St Mary's replied to that immediately, the game was well beyond their reach at that stage.
The Birr side made good use of the wind when they had it in their favour in the first half. They were content to pick off their points from out the field and quickly established a grip on the game.
Although St Brendan's had the bulk of the play in this half, it was clear when St Mary's did attack that the St Brendan's defence was strong and resolute and this view was confirmed in the second half when they withstood a great deal of St Mary's pressure very effectively.
Trailing by 12 points at the interval the third quarter was always going to be crucial for St Mary's. They needed early scores to build up their momentum and to put them into a challenging position as the game entered the final stages. However, they were unable to get the scores they needed and by the middle of the half had only reduced St Brendan's big lead by a single point and when the town side then banged home their second goal the game was as good as over.
Oisin O'Neill was the star of the Birr side. As well as shooting seven points he was instrumental in setting up many of his sides other scores, while in the second half he frequently foraged deeply to win possession for S t Brendan's and set them on the attack.
As in the semi-final the previous week St Brendan's started with Johnny Pilkington at centre half back and Brian Whelehan as full forward. Both acquitted themselves well in those positions and then switched around at half time when St Brendan's faced the wind, Whelehan dropping back to centre half back and Pilkington taking over at centre half forward, where his deep penetrative solo runs caused many problems for St Mary's and led directly to St Brendan's third goal.
St Mary's real problem was in the scoring department. They only managed one point in the first half, from a free, and it took them until the 12th minute of the second half until they got their first score from play. Indeed their return from play, three scores, was poor reward, considering the strength of the wind on Sunday. Until Donal Golden banged home their only goal in the 54 th minute, Colm Bourke was their only scorer, and all bar a point of his tally came from placed balls.
St Mary's didn't always use sensible tactics when playing against they wind. They were inclined to strike the ball too high and the wind was catching it and blowing it back putting them under more pressure. St Brendan's showed a little more experience, driving the ball lower and keeping it on the ground when possible. It was much more effective and yielded them valuable scores against the wind, scores which St Mary's had been unable to obtain in the first half.
To their credit the younger St Mary's side, a number of whom are still underage for another three years, never gave up and they fought on right to the end. Tempers did became a little frayed in the final minutes, leading to one melee in the Birr square, but on the whole the game was played in a good spirit.
In the very first minute Brian Whelehan broke clear and his shot was deflected across the face of the goal for a '65' which Oisin O'Neill pointed. A minute later the same player lobbed a high ball into the goalmouth and Alan Hennessy nipped in to get his stick to it and flick it past Damien Franks. Within another two minutes Oisin O'Neill had struck over another two points and St Brendan's were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead before most people had a chance to settle.
St Mary's steadied after that barrage and tried to get their own game going. It was a further six minutes before St Brendan's pointed again when Noel Hogan side stepped his man to shoot over. O'Neill pointed another free, Brian Hogan added another from out on the left and Brian Whelehan finished a five man move from defence when a fine shot which was deflected over the bar by Damien Franks. Noel Hogan raised another white flag in the 21st minute and a minute later St Mary’s got their first score when Co1m Bourke pointed a free. The puck out after that carried long with the wind and Oisin O’Neill ran on to it and shot over and the same player scored the final point of the half when he showed nice control on the stick about 60m out and sent the ball between the posts to leave St Brendan's, 1-10 to 0-1 ahead at the interval.
On the restart St Brendan's had made positional switches when Brian Whelehan dropping to defence, Johnny Pilkington going to centre half forward, Noel Hogan to the right of that line and Oisin O'Neill the left, and Brian Hogan took over the full forward mantle.
Following two wides Calm Bourke got the first score of the half after four minutes when he pointed a free. Oisin O’ Neill replied at the other end with a similar score for S t Brendan's but Bourke hit back with a point from a 60m free and then scored S t Mary's first score from play in the 12th minute. A nice flick from. Oisin O'Neill sent Arnold Rosney away for a point and Colm Bourke replied again with a point from a '65'
Then in the 18th minute, Noel Hogan burst in from the left side and crashed a great shot to the net. Colm Bourke had hit the target from another '65' when Johnny Pilkington cut in from the right, sent a low ball across the goalmouth to the unmakred Alan Hennessy, who made no mistake with his second goal. Within a minute 8t Mary's had replied when Donal Golden sent a low shot out of the reach of Robbie Shiels. Declan Maher and Colm Bourke, from another '65 added further points and although the same player went for goal from a 20m free, it was saved and St Brendan's recorded a 10 point victory.
The St Brendan's defence gave very little away. Neil Tierney was a rock at full back with good support from the comers, Brian Guilfoyle and John Kirwan. Johnny Pilkington in the first half and Brian Whelehan in the second were strong at center half back, with Conor Hanniffy, on the right, and the excellent John Carroll on the left forming a solid half back line.
Conor McGlone was joined at midfield by Frankie Pilkington, and this strong pair gave Birr an edge in this sector. In attack Oisin O'Neill was the star but two goal Alan Hennessy and team captain Noel Hogan were also prominent.
For St Mary's, Donal Franks, John Maher and Eugene Ryan worked hard in defence, Liam O’Toole and John Dooley, had a good battle at midfield with the St Brendan's pair, but in attack they had problems and but for the accuracy of Colm Bourke, would have suffered a far heavier defeat. ,
St Brendan's; Oisin O'Neill (0-7, three frees, one '65'), Alan Hennessy
(2-0), Noel Hogan (1-2), Brian Hogan, Brian Whelehan and Arnold Rosney (0-1
each).
St Mary's; Colm Bourke (O-7 , three frees, three '65s '), Donal Golden (1-0),
Declan Maher (0-1).
ST. BRENDAN'S: Robert Shiels; Brian Guilfoyle, Neil Tierney, John Kirwan; Conor Hanniffy, Johnny Pilkington, John Carroll; Conor McGlone, Frankie Pilkington; Oisin O'Neill, Noel Hogan, Brian Hogan; Arnold Rosney, Brian Whelehan, Alan Hennessy.
ST MARY'S: Damien Franks; Keith Russell, Flannan Cleary, Donal Franks; Eugene Ryan, John Maher, Denis Doughan; Liam O'Toole, John Dooley; Colm Bourke, Donal Golden, Declan Maher; Tomas 0 'Toole, Liam Clear, Padraig McLoughlin.
REFEREE: Dan Lawless.