AFTER losing the Premier B final and going out at the semi final of the Castle Bar Cup Classic FC finished their season on a high note when they lifted the Hennebery's Sports Reserve Cup at Mounthawk Park on Sunday evening with a 3-1 win over Fenit Samphires.

In a game that hung on the balance throughout Fenit will be disappointed that they conceded a couple of goals of a soft variety in the second half which contributed to their defeat.

The first half of this game was very keenly contested with Classic looking the more likely to score.

With both sides cancelling themselves out the first chance in the game came in the 25th minute when Mike Conway released David Courtney and his effort was only a fraction wide.

Fenit's first serious threat on goals came after 30 minutes when a Daniel Nelligan free kick caused panic in the Classic rearguard and when the ball broke loose it was taken off the line by Martin Courtney.

Now Classic were winning a series of corners but the Fenit rearguard handled them all comfortably.

Then just before the break Fenit created a couple of good chances firstly Mairtín Ferris won the ball off a Classic defender and delivered a pass to Daniel Nelligan and his goalbound shot was taken off the line by Frankie Murphy.

Then Nelligan centred a ball from the wing to the unmarked Tommy McCarthy but his shot was brilliantly stopped by the outstretched boot of Classic keeper Gary Kissane.

Classic opened the second half with a flurry with a Martin Courtney latching on to Gary O'Connor kick who fed the inrushing Connor who delivered a high cross into the danger zone. However, the Fenit goalie made a meal of the aerial ball and instead of catching it the ball went out of his grasp and into the net.

Minutes later they almost doubled their lead when David Courtney gained possession in the box but his effort was brilliantly blocked by Joe O'Halloran.

However Fenit were brought right back into the game in the 57th minute when a free kick from the half way line by Rory Kelly found Martin Ferris and outjumped everyone to head the ball home.

Shortly afterwards Classic hearts missed a beat when Pa McCarthy let fly with a thunderbolt of a shot from 25 yards which almost took the paintwork off the post.

Then in a quick counter attack David Courtney showed a clean pair of heels to Fenit defenders and found Gary O'Connor in space on the verge of the box and his powerful shot flew into the roof of the net.

Now Fenit went all out in search of an equaliser but they were caught flat footed in the 89th minute when sub Eoin Colgan delivered a speculative cross into the goalmouth which was misjudged by the Fenit custodian and they ball went in off the goal post.

At the end of the day Classic were worthy champions and as they were also promoted to Premeir A to cap a great season for player manager Timmy Lynch who is the driving force behind the team.

CLASSIC FC: Gary Kissane, Frankie Murphy, Anthony McAuliffe, Timmy Lynch, Martin Courtney, Mark Tagney, Brendan Smyth, Mike Conway, Gary O'Connor, Jason Casey, David Courtney. Subs: Jonathon Conway for Mark Tagney, Owen Colgan for David Courtney.

FENIT SAMPHIRES: Paul O'Sullivan, Tommy McCarthy, Rory Kelly, Joe O'Halloran, Darragh O'Shea, Pa McCarthy, Peadar Stack, Kevin Walsh, Jason McCarthy, Martin Ferris, Daniel Nelligan. Subs: Cillian O'Shea for Jason McCarthy

- Mike Rice at Mounthawk Park, Tralee