Mater Dei take 2012 Carroll Cup

In one of the tightest finals in years, it was Mater Dei that outlasted arch-rival Kildare Catholic College by eight points.

Kildare’s determined attack almost upset Mater Dei, but the latter prevailed 7.12 (54) to 7.4 (46).

Played in front of the biggest crowd in Carroll Cup history, the two teams produced a game for the ages.

Kildare stunned their rival from the first bounce and were in control of the game until half-time.

Mater Dei slowly gained the momentum to eventually take the game, despite some poor goal-kicking.

In a dramatic final quarter, almost every player was involved in a melee that saw Mater Dei player Jim Carroll sent from the field after a yellow card.

Mater Dei recovered from the disruption and Joel Tancredi goaled shortly after to seal back-to-back cups for his school.

Mater Dei coach Richard O’Connell was proud and exhausted at the end of the game.

“It was a bit of a relief really, on the bench it was nerve racking,” he told The Daily Advertiser.

“It was a tight, close tussle and the spirit of this team, they kept fighting.

“(Kildare’s) pressure, intensity and tackling was difficult to adjust to but we stuck to our guns and got the result.”

 Photo courtesy of The Daily Advertiser