There was late heartache for Coláiste Ailigh as two injury time points from Odhrán Loughrey gave St Cuan’s victory in the All-Ireland ‘D’ final in Collooney.
Coláiste Ailigh 2-14 St Cuan’s College 4-09
Sean McNulty’s goal, in the final minute of normal time, fired Coláiste Ailigh a point in front, but they had the prize cruelly snatched from their grasp with Loghrey tacking on two late frees in the added spell to win the day for the Galway outfit.
Coláiste Ailigh’s Eoin McGeehim breaks for the St. Cuan’s goal during Saturday’s All Ireland final. Picture by Evan Logan
St Cuan’s led 1-5 to 0-7 at half-time and they hit three second-half goals.
Eoin McGeehin, who hit 1-8 for Coláiste Ailigh, drilled over two frees at the start of the second half, but a 39th minute goal from Owen Naughton, finishing after Shaun Keane superbly fielded a high ball into the danger zone, had three between them.
Just five minutes later, St Cuan’s were in again. Josh Pond, the Coláiste Ailigh goalkeeper, brilliantly saved from Darragh Glynn, but sub Enda Kenny slammed home to stun their opponents.
Nine minutes from the end, Coláiste Ailigh saw full-back Ross Marley sent off for a second bookable offence, but the real action had not yet started. Sean Breen was also sent off for a double-yellow, but Coláiste Ailigh still managed to stage quite the turnaround.
Coláiste Ailigh looked dead and buried when Loughrey palmed home after a flowing St Cuan’s move.
The goose appeared cooked, but then came a stunning revival.
McGeehin and McNulty kicked points before McGeehin riffled to the net after his initial effort was blocked.
A McGeehin free and McNulty’s goal had the fingers on the silverware – but they were removed by Loughrey’s deadly double.
St Cuan’s had a dream start with a goal just three minutes in, Ross Hannon’s low shot beating Pond in the bottom corner. That came a minute after Donal Higgins’ shot crashed off the crossbar at the other end.
McGeehin was denied by St Cuan’s goalkeeper Jamie Kennedy after slaloming through the middle, tough the tie was delicately poised at the interval.
Coláiste Ailigh will take heart from a cracking game, but the manner of the defeat will sting for some time.
Coláiste Ailigh: Josh Pond; Tony Gallagher, Ross Marley, Rory Boyce; Iarla McGinley, Oisin McGarvey (0-1), Donal Higgins (0-1); Sean Breen (0-2), Sean McNulty (1-1); Ronan McGeehin (0-1), Michael Sweeney, Diarmuid O’Cahill; Sean Ryan, Eoin McGeehin (1-8, 7f), Ruairi McGinty. Sub: Pealar Devenney for Boyce (53)
St Cuan’s College: Jamie Kennedy; Eoghain McCabe, Sean Naughton, Evan Naughton; Diarmuid Butler, Jack Hughes, Dean Reilly; Cian O’Rourke, Jack Barrett; Michael Glynn, Owen Naughton (1-0), Ross Hannon (1-0); Darragh Glynn (0-5, 5f), Shaun Keane, Odhran Loughrey (1-4, 3f). Subs: Enda Kenny (1-0) for Butler (40), Eanna O’Rourke for McCabe (50), Alan Naughton for Glynn (56), Tommy Leonard for Hughes (black card, 58).
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