AT HALF-TIME AT Munday’s field in Ballyshannon this afternoon, the omens didn’t look great for Magh Ene College Bundoran.
Magh Ene Bundoran 0-13 St Columba’s, Stranorlar 2-5
Fergal O’Flaherty’s team had had the advantage of both the wind and the slope at the Aodh Rudh facility in the first half and still went in against St Columba’s Stranorlar in the semi-final of the Donegal Senior A Vocational Schools Football Championship.
Magh Ene had scored eight first half points but two goals from Chad McSorley at the other end meant it was 0-8 to 2-2. If you had the chance to pop on a live bet there and then, it would’ve went on in the semi-final of the Donegal Senior A Schools Football Championship..
However, a little like their last eight win over PCC Falcarragh, Magh Ene improved after the break and as well as defending much better, were comfortable with ball in hand and in Cian McEniff had an accurate free-taker, who scored nine points in all – eight from placed balls.
It means now that Magh Ene will face St Columba’s Glenties – with Martin Regan’s side having overcome Abbey Vocational School in their last four fixture – in the final next week.
With the wind at their backs, Magh Ene looked to building themselves a solid enough foundation to begin with.
After 15 minutes they were 0-5 to 0-1 in front with McEniff scoring four of those scores. In fact, the margin might well have been even more following Dara Elliott’s shot on 10 minutes.
Magh Ene claimed that the ball flew into the bottom corner of Sean McBride’s net, which wasn’t hooked tightly to the post but referee Shane Tolan didn’t agree and said ‘no goal.’
The Bundoran based side nearly got a goal again in the 13th minute when a flowing move that involved Luke Towey, Conor Colreavy and Declan Clancy before Elliott saw his effort cleared off the line by Conor McBride.
On 19 minutes, St Columba’s got themselves back into contention when McSorley touched in from close range following good approach play by Adam Lynch and Conor Dalton.
However, Magh Ene College had a chance to cancel that goal out moments later when Jerome Duffy was penalised for a footblock but McBride in the St Columba’s goal saved the penalty of Cillian McGloin easily on 23 minutes.
McSorley scored his second goal of the half right before the break with an excellent individual effort that rammed in off the underside of the crossbar following a run from deep. McEniff pointed at the other end to level it up at half-time, 0-8 to 2-2.
The St Columba’s Stranorlar panel who were playing at Munday’s Field in Ballyshannon this afternoon
Magh Ene were solid at the start of the second half as they faced the elements and almost grabbed a goal, only for Luke Towey to save his effort well. McEniff’s free and a Simpson point – that might well have been a goal – opened up a two-point lead.
Looking back, a fruitless third quarter was perhaps the place St Columba’s lost the game. They did open their second half account on 45 minutes when Kevin Bonner scored but the Stranorlar sideline felt Magh Ene were getting awarded easy frees.
With 10 minutes left, it was a three-point game but when substitute Christopher Gallagher and Aodhfhin McGlynn popped over scores for St Columba’s there was just the one in it, but McEniff scored to confirm Magh Ene’s victory.
Magh Ene College, Bundoran: Conor Carty; Colm Clancy, Paul Murphy, Adam Brennan; Leo Ryan, Shane Carr, James Stewart; Adam Brennan, Cillian McGloin; Taylor Simpson, Declan Clancy (0-2), Dara Elliott (0-3); Luke Towey, Conor Colreavy, Cian McEniff (0-9, 8f). Subs: Brian MacHenry for Ryan (60).
St Columba’s College Secondary School, Stranorlar: Sean McBride; Fintan Griffin, Jerome Duffy; Padhraic Patton; Eoin Burke, Aodhfhin McGlynn (0-1), Paddy Dolan; Carl Dunnion, Conor McBride; Chad McSorley (2-1), Stephen Carr (0-1), Luke Gavigan; Adam Lynch, Conor Dalton, Kevin Bonner (0-1). Subs Christopher Gallagher (0-1) for Duffy (28), Eoin Donnellan for Gavigan (40).
Referee: Shane Toolan (Aodh Ruadh).
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