CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL ruthlessly dispatched of St Columba’s Comprehensive School Glenties to seal their place in the final of the Donegal Schools’ Under-14 Championship.
Carndonagh Community School 6-11 St Columba’s Comprehensive School Glenties 2-5
The Inishowen side were comfortable winners in the end, although the margin of the victory might’ve been a little harsh on the St Columba’s team, who competed well enough for the most part.
Carnadonagh had more physicality and were stronger on the ball on a December day at the Convoy Centre of Excellence and Matthew Mullarkey and Luke Doherty both grabbed a couple of goals each over the course of the hour.
PCC Falcarragh await in the final for the team managed by Padraig McCafferty and James Doherty.
A decent start laid the foundations, with Carndonagh clocking up 1-4 with replay in the opening quarter. The goal came on 12 minutes when Mullarkey scored on the turn following ball in from Doherty.
It was one of a number of early goal chances. Gavin McDaid of Carndonagh almost goaled in the second minute only for Adam Molloy in the St Columba’s goal to save well.
Then. two minutes later at the other end, Daniel Gildea was unfortunate not to open the St Columba’s account as Niall Gallagher did enough to stop.
St Columba’s got through the gears in a five-minute spell that led up to the 20th minute. When the ball broke his way, wing-forward Darryl Maguire flashed a fine goal on 19 minutes, which was part of 1-3 in succession.
However, Carndonagh finished the half strongly and Anthony Doherty showed strength to burst through the St Columba’s defence to ram home a second goal for his team. It meant Carndonagh were 2-5 to 1-3 in front at the break.
With a little wind at their backs they pressed on after the restart. Doherty smashed home a third goal on 34 minutes and although St Columba’s gave themselves an inkling of hope when Mark Bonner scored a goal at the second attempt on 42 minutes, by the midpoint of the half Carndonagh were 3-8 to 2-4 up.
Three goals in the last nine minutes proved their relentlessness.
Firstly, Doherty scored his second goal of the afternoon with a crisply-struck left foot shot before, two minutes later, Mullarkey broke in to post a fifth Carndonagh goal.
The best goal was kept till last as centre-back Luke Rudden went on a powerful run from his defensive base to scored a fine individual goal two minutes from time.
Carndonagh Community School: Niall Gallagher; Peter McCallion, Ronan Kelly, Oran Doherty; Oisin Devlin, Luke Rudden (1-0), Paul Doherty; Gavin McDaid, Anthony Doherty (1-3, 1’45’); Tiernan McDonald (0-2), Sean McCarron, Matthew Mullarkey (2-2); Conor O’Neill, Luke Doherty (2-4,1f), Will Quinn. Subs: Ben Curley for McCarron (half-time), Matthew Brennan for O Doherty (38), Mark Doherty for Quinn (42), Eoin McLaughlin and David McGonagle for O’Neill and McDonald (56).
St Columba’s Comprehensive, Glenties: Adam Molloy, Aiden Gilroy, Neil Francis Boyle, Conor Roarty; CJ Laverty, Fionn Gallagher, David Roog; Liam McShane, Charlie Kennedy; Darryl Maguire (1-0), Mark Bonner (1-3, 2fs), Jack Boyle; Daniel Gildea (0-1), Robbie O’Donnell, Mark Burke (1-0). Subs: Kyle McCole for Roog 921 mins), Paul Walsh for J Boyle (half-time), Jack Boyle for McCole (35), Niall McMenamin for O’Donnell (55), Odhran McCallig and Mark Campbell for Bonner and Laverty (57).
Referee: Gerard McHugh (Convoy).
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