St Eunan’s College recorded in their first win in the Rannafast (Ulster Under-161⁄2) Competition today with a win over St MacCartan’s from Monaghan with Conor O’Donnell scoring 2-4 and James Carolan a hat-trick.
St Eunan’s College 5-10 St MacCartan’s 2-6
The game was played on the 3G surface in the Garvaghey Centre Co Tyrone. The College side still have a number of key players out through injury but back into the side today came Cormac O’Kane and making his first start for the College side was Shane McDaid, who was impressive throughout.
The Letterkenny side were beaten in their opening game in the competition last week against Abbey CBS from Newry.
A cross field breeze made the going tough at times but the College took full advantage of the elements to take control early on.
The first score of the game was a Conor O’Donnell goal after a kick out won well by Daragh Ellison and with an assist from Cormac Finn, O’Donnell finished well for a great start for the College team.
Conor O’Donnell added another from a free, with Daragh Ellison and another Conor O’Donnell point, a great ball played in from Shane O’Donnell, leaving the College side in the driving seat with a 1-4 to no score advantage.
[adrotate group=”38″]The Monaghan men did have attacks but with the College defence especially Oisin Cassidy, Oran Winston and Shane McDaid breaking up attacks and added to the fact that Eoghan Jordan in control from nets it wasn’t until the 13th minute and just on the stroke of half time that the Monaghan school registered scores on the board.
Another Conor O’Donnell point, this time with a great pass from Cormac Finn, and a fine point on the run from Termon’s Jamie Grant left the College in a good position in the 20th minute.
Cormac Finn chipped in with a well worked score plus a point from Ellison and another O’Donnell goal, a move that was started in the College defence and moved speedily up the pitch with real skill and speed left the
half time score in Garvaghey, St Eunan’s College 2-8 to St MacCartans 0-2.
St MacCartans did improve in the second half with the breeze and tagged three points in a row. The College side tackled well and worked hard during this period and weathered the storm even after conceding a goal to St MacCartans in the 14th minute to leave the score 2-9 to 1-5.
James Carolan was introduced to the fray and with his pace and ability causing the Monaghan defence all sorts of trouble. He went on to score three goals on the day which is a fine achievement at this level of Ulster Colleges football.
Further points from Conor O’Donnell,Oran Winston and Daragh Ellison left the College with a total of 5-10 to MacCartans 2-6 at full time.
A much improved performance from the Letterkenny boys with improvements all over the pitch. In defence , Conor Mc Kinney, Oisin Cassidy and Cormac O’Kane were excellent and both midfielders Shane O’Donnell and Shane McDaid covered all blades of the 4G surface, breaking up attacks and setting up many counter-attacks.
In the forwards special mention to Oran Winston,Dylan Doogan and Jamie Grant who worked up and down the field,again tackling hard and getting on the end of the moves for great team scores.
[adrotate group=”53]Next up for the College side is Inis Eoghain , with time and a venue to be confirmed early next week.
Scorers: Conor O’Donnell 2-4, James Carolan 3-0, Jamie Grant 0-1, Cormac Finn 0-1, Oran Winston 0-1, Daragh Ellison 0-2, Dylan Doogan 0-1
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