CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL squandered a six-point lead against St Colm’s Draperstown to lose out in their Danske Bank McDevitt Cup (Ulster U-14A) quarter-final today.
Carndonagh Community School 3-4 St Colm’s Draperstown 2-9
The Derry champions – managed by county player Benny Herron – were much stronger after the interval and ended up winning the second half comprehensively, 1-5 to 0-1.
The Inishowen team, who are managed by Padraig McCafferty and Sean Doherty, scored two late goals in the first half to put themselves in a decent position.
Photo caption: The Carndonagh Community School team before their Danske Bank McDevitt Cup (Ulster U-14A) quarter-final today at Owenbeg
However, that proved to be something of a false economy as there wasn’t much to choose between the teams until the final two minutes of the half.
Carnadonagh made a competent start at the Derry Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg, on the astroturf facility.
After 10 minutes they were 1-2 to 0-0 in front with Conor O’Neill’s goal on seven minutes the first score of the afternoon. The corner-forward scored from close range after a crossfield ball from Anthony Doherty was touched down by Luke Doherty.
At the same time, St Colm’s still looked dangerous in attack, working off their midfield base of Gavin Donnelly and Ronan McKenna.
They clipped over three points in succession to warm the engine before Donnelly scored a 15th minute goal after being set up by Jamie Murray.
When Declan Grant added a point moments later it meant the Derry champions – whose Under-16 side had lost to Coláiste na Carraige in the Arthurs Cup on Monday in Enniskillen – were 1-4 to 1-2 in front.
But Carndonagh’s strong finish to the half yielded two further goals. In the 23rd minute, two before the interval with 25 minutes a half being played, Luke Doherty got in on goal only to be fouled by Reece McGuigan, the St Colm’s goalkeeper. Luke Rudden scored the penalty (see below).
Then, Luke Doherty scored 1-1 in as many minutes, with the goal finishing off a move that involved Anthony Doherty and Tiernan McDonald.
At half-time, Carndonagh were leading 3-3 to 1-4.
Anthony Doherty opened the second half scoring two minutes after the restart but that was as good as it was going to get for Carndonagh.
The St Colm’s Draperstown team that overcame Carndonagh Community School this afternoon in the their Danske Bank McDevitt Cup (Ulster U-14A) quarter-final today at Owenbeg
Murray scored a goal for St Colm’s a minute later, after a free from McKenna had been touched onto the crossbar but Niall Gallagher in the Carndonagh goal.
St Colm’s just kept pressing from there and five successive points – with McKenna scoring three frees and Grant and Conor Kelly on target – made for a two-point lead, 2-9 to 3-4.
In injury time, Carndonagh almost won it but after a decent run, Anthony Doherty’s shot flashed inches wide of the post.
Carndonagh Community School: Niall Gallagher; Oran Doherty, Ronan Kelly, Peter McCallion; Paul Doherty, Luke Rudden (1-0, pen), Oisín Devlin (0-1); Gavin McDaid, Anthony Doherty (0-1); Tiernan McDonald, Matthew Mullarkey, Sean McCarron (0-1); Will Quinn, Luke Doherty (1-2, 1f), Conor O’Neill (0-1). Subs: Aaron Doherty for Quinn (20), Ciaran Dillion for O’Neill (black card, 36), Ben Curly for McCarron (47).
St Colm’s Draperstown: Reece McGuigan; Conor Shiels, Joe Heron, Michael Murray; Kyle Kelly, Aodhan O’Hagan, Cathair Doyle; Gavin Donnelly (1-1), Ronan McKenna (0-4, 4f); Martin Machle (0-1), Logan McCullagh, Jach Conway; Declan Grant (0-2), Jamie Murray (1-0) Conor Kelly (0-1). Subs: Ethan McGuigan for L McCullagh (28), Enda McKee for Doyle (48).
Referee: Paul Coyle (Tyrone)
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