MATER Dei Catholic College saved their best football for last as they produced a mighty upset to claim the Carroll Cup final over arch-rivals Kildare on Monday night.
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Mater Dei got off to a blistering start under lights and never looked back as they upstaged Kildare Catholic College by 12 points, 7.7 (49) to 5.7 (37) at Robertson Oval.
A spirited defensive effort saw Mater Dei keep Kildare goalless for a crucial 30-minute period during the middle of the final, where they pressured their opponents out of the contest.
Mater Dei opened up a 28-point lead early in the third term before Kildare finally wrestled the momentum in their favour.
Kildare tried their hardest to mirror Mater Dei’s comeback from last year, but could only get as close as 11 points.
Kildare bombed a few opportunities but Mater Dei was relentless with their pressure and held on for a third consecutive Carroll Cup triumph.
Mater Dei coach Nathan Irvine had said all along that it was going to take a full team effort for his side to prevail and that is exactly what unfolded.
“Last week we spoke about not playing as a team, playing as individuals, but tonight they really just played as a team,” Irvine said.
“They were very disciplined, blokes that we gave a job to did those, and everyone contributed, which is what we were after.
“We didn’t want two or three blokes trying to do it themselves, we wanted the whole team to contribute so that was super.”
“They have big hearts. We spoke about heart and tonight we thought we were a big show if we played the right type of footy and before the game they were just on, you knew they were on.”
Mater Dei captain Dylan Morton led by example and was awarded the Mark Gooden Memorial Medal for best-on-ground.
Morton was the general across half-back, consistently putting his body on the line and repelling many Kildare attacks.
Fellow defenders, Mitch Wadley and Brad Peacock, also did brilliant jobs. Brendan Myers, Connor Byrne and Luke Redfern were terrific through the middle, while Will Keogh and Joe Burton provided plenty of life in attack.
Morton said there was an amazing sense of spirit and belief within the Mater Dei group.
“It’s an awesome feeling, especially being underdogs,” Morton said.
“The feeling at the start of the game, and especially during it, I’ve played a lot of football but I’ve never experienced something like that.
“I kept telling the boys each quarter, we have just got to hold on, keep working and that’s what we done.
“I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”
On top of the win, Mater Dei midfielder Brendan Myers was named Player of the Series.
It was a disappointing night for Kildare, but the likes of Ben Kelly and Jake Gaynor never stopped trying.
Full-time
MATER DEI CC (49)
3.3 4.5 6.5 7.7
KILDARE CC (37)
2.1 2.1 3.4 5.7
Goals: (Mater Dei) W Keogh 2, J Burton 2, C Byrne, B Cain, H Templeton; (Kildare) R Corbett, B Kelly, J Gaynor, E Schiller, T Anderson.
Best: (Mater Dei) D Morton (Mark Gooden Memorial Medal), M Wadley, B Peacock, C Byrne, W Keogh, L Redfern, B Myers; (Kildare) B Kelly, J Gaynor, M McGowan, W Graetz, L Nilsen, O Smyth.
