College Corinthians win the JAKO Ireland Munster Youth Cup final but the ugly scenes at the end of the game will require investigation

College Corinthians 3

Pike Rovers 1

Padraig McGrath was the College Corinthians hero when they beat Limerick outfit Pike Rovers 3-1 in the JAKO Ireland Munster Youth Cup final at a very sunny Turner’s Cross yesterday.

But events in injury time and after the final whistle where there was a pitch invasion by supporters marred what was another great win for this classy Corinthians team who are on the verge of history by winning every competition they entered this season at under 18 level.

With injury time almost up and Corinthians ahead 3-1 a player from each side was sent off by match referee Darren O’Rourke. This incident was the catalyst and flash point that saw all hell break loose on the pitch as players started fighting and as supporters who entered the pitch fought with each other. The scenes lasted for at least two minutes.

Gardaí were called and arrived in significant numbers with at least 12 present at the ground.

An ambulance was also called for an injured College Corinthians player and he received attention at the ground, but the player did not require hospitalisation.

Barry Cotter from the Munster Football Association made the following statement.

“I can’t go into anything at this stage as this is so fresh, but a fair and full investigation will take place immediately once we get the referee’s report.”

The MFA committee will meet in the coming days to discuss the incident.

When College Corinthians mentors were asked about the situation, they preferred not to comment on the record and to leave the investigation to the authorities.

There was nobody available from Pike Rovers to give a comment as they left the ground straight after the final whistle.

The game was level 1-1 after a very evenly contested first half, man of the match Padraig McGrath gave Corinthians an early lead, however, the Limerick side equalised in the 13th minute when Finn Morrison headed home from close range.

However, the Cork side added two goals in the second half from the boot of McGrath and a fine individual effort from Kai O’Neill to win the fifth piece of silverware in an amazing season for these incredible young men.

College Corinthians got off to the best possible start of the game when Padraig McGrath picked up a loose ball 35 yards from goal in the fifth minute and he kept his composure to calmly slot home to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Pike came very close to levelling the game two minutes later when Cian Punch found himself in a great position, however, his effort went agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

They did level the game 1-1 in the 13th minute when Finn Morrison powered his header home from an Aaron Cusack corner.

The game settled down after a frantic opening period, as it certainly wasn’t for the faint hearted with tackles flying in from both sides.

McGrath came close to restoring Corinthians lead in the 33rd minute, however, Rovers keeper Mariusz Palen stood tall to make a vital save.

Three minutes later on the other side of the pitch Punch showed great feet in the Corinthians box, but Raymond Foley-Kiss made a superb one handed save to push his effort around the post.

Pike made a bright start to the second half and when Ethan Joyce found Morrison free inside the Corinthians box in the 51st minute, he saw his glancing header go inches over the bar.

However, the Cork side regained the lead 2-1 two minutes later, their captain Kealan Crowe played a delightful through ball to McGrath and he raced through on goal to stroke home.

Joyce found space outside the Corinthians box in the 74th minute, but his effort from distance sailed over the bar.

The Cork players long season was taking its toll as some of them were playing on fumes, however, when Kai O’Neill showed his persistence and skill to dance his way into the Pike penalty area in the 79th minute, he showed all his class to poke his effort past Palen to give his side a 3-1 lead.

Foley-Kiss was called into action again two minutes later when he had to make a smart stop from Rovers substitute Jack Meaney.

Both sides finished the game with 10 men when two players were shown straight red cards, however, what followed were disgraceful scenes.

COLLEGE CORINTHIANS: Raymond Foley-Kiss, Jayden Adar-Bell, Daniel Mellerick, Connor Gardiner, Samuel Dow, Kealan Crowe, Ty Corcoran, Dylan O’Sullivan, Padraig McGrath, Joseph Mouret, Kai O’Neill.

Subs: Shane Fielding for Corcoran (51) Billy Higgins for Gardiner (64), Harry Jeffers for Dow (68), Conor Redmond for Mouret (85), Conor Redmond for O’Neill (90).

PIKE ROVERS: Mariusz Palen, Jack Croke, Ethan Joyce, Jamie Mitchell, Sean McCallig, Patrick Steed, Cameron Walsh, Finn Morrison, Aaron Cusack, Cian Punch, Shane Finucane.

Subs: Cathal Prendergast for Punch (55), Ryan Moloney for Walsh (57), Cathal McNamara for Cusack (81), Jack Meaney for Mitchell (81), Scott Connolly for Finucane (90).

Referee: Darren O’Rourke.

Assistant Referee’s: Mark Griffin, John McCarthy.

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