ST EUNAN’S COLLEGE suffered disappointment in the semi-final of the Ulster Colleges Corn Colmcille at The Scarvey, Buncrana this afternoon.
St Eunan’s College 1-8 St Columb’s College 2-8
Gary McDaid’s team were beaten by a goal by St Columb’s, who saw forward Shea Browne score a goal in each half, the first of them from a penalty.
And although St Eunan’s battled back, spurred by Shane Monaghan’s goal, St Columb’s had enough about them to keep the Letterkenny students in front.
When Brown brilliant fired over a point in the 25th minute, following a three-man move that started deep inside the St Columb’s half, it put St Columb’s four up and looking like they’d already done enough.
Their opening goal came in the 18th minute when the ball was touched on the ground by a St Eunan’s defender and referee Martin McErlane awarded a penalty that was well dispatched by Browne, beyond goalkeeper Matthew Whoriskey.
St Columb’s had began brightly and it took a fine save by Whoriskey to keep out an effort by James McLaughlin.
Early scores by Callum Friel had St Eunan’s well in it, but when Brown netted the penalty and, after Callum Deery tapped over a free, boomed over in style, it put the Derry side 1-3 to 0-2 ahead.
St Eunan’s had their moments and they finished the first half strongly to come to within a point at the change of ends as Seimi Breslin, Jack Alcorn and Emmet O’Boyle registered scores.
Monagan was denied a goal when his attempt was beaten away by St Columb’s goalkeeper Ben O’Kane.
Brown netted his and St Columb’s second goal 13 minutes into the second half, punishing St Eunan’s to the maximum after they coughed up a cheap possession in defence.
Two points by Oran McMenamin had St Columb’s 2-5 to 0-6 ahead and St Eunan’s needed a big response.
They got just that as Friel and Oran Brogan tacked on points before Monaghan’s wonderful goal in the 53rd minute. The Naomh Colmcille man went on a superb solo run, weaving his way past three St Columb’s defenders, before slamming past O’Kane.
While the goal brought St Eunan’s to within a point, St Columb’s closed the game out with McMenamin and Browne scoring points to fire the Buncrana Road school into the final.
Callum Friel of St Eunan’s College was the Michael Murphy Sports Man of the Match. The St Michael’s player scored four points in all.
St Eunan’s College: Matthew Whoriskey; Cian McMonagle, Noel O’Donnell, Sean Collum; Conor Hughes, Shane Monaghan (1-0), Conal McDermott; Seimi Breslin (0-1), Jack Gallagher; Callum Friel (0-4, 3f), Jack Roarty, Oran Brogan (0-1); Jack Alcorn (0-1), Emmet O’Boyle (0-1), Sean McVeigh. Subs: Kelan Collier for McVeigh (35), Calvin Aidoo for McMonagle (48).
St Columb’s College: Ben O’Kane; Mark McGilligan, Kealan McLaughlin, Donncha Gilmore; Callum Deery (0-1, 1f), Padhraig Nelis, Ronan McAleer; Oran Curley, Tiarnan O’Connor; Oran McMenamin (0-5, 2f), Eamon Og Feeney, Ciaran Curray; James McLaughlin, Niall McGonagle, Shea Browne (2-2, 1pen).
Referee: Martin McErlane (Derry).
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