ST EUNAN’S COLLEGE got off to a great start today in the Treanor Cup (Ulster Colleges U-15½) competition against a strong St Patrick’s Armagh side.
St Eunan’s College 1-10 St Patrick’s Armagh 2-5
The match took place in Clogher, Co Tyrone. Conditions were perfect for what was a very entertaining and free flowing game of football.
St Patrick’s, just returned from ‘A’ football, got off to the better start and settled with a few early points but once St Eunan’s College – managed by Chris Carr and Colm McFadden – settled into their rhythm they were the better side of the first half.
Oisin Cassidy from Termon was driving forward from the half-back line, assisted by Conor Cullen from Letterkenny Gaels and Brendan Horgan of St Eunan’s, they broke up may Armagh attacks and launched many of the St Eunan’s College attacks.
They met the St Patrick’s attacks with high intensity tackling and a never say die attitude.
Conor O’Donnell from St Eunan’s was the star forward scoring 1-5 on the day. The goal came from a break in midfield won by clubmate Shane O’Donnell.
He ran directly and sliced through the Armagh defence and unselfishly passed to Conor O’Donnell to palm to the net for what was a well worked goal straight from the training ground.
The Armagh side were forced into some substitutions early on as the lively Daragh Ellison and Cormac Finn – both St.Eunan’s – caused a lot of trouble with their direct running and work rate off the ball. The half-time score was 1-6 to 0-2.
StEunan’s got the first score of the second period as well from an easy free. Then the Armagh side hit a purple patch and dominated the next 15 minutes.
They clawed it back to a four-point game with a converted penalty with 10 minutes to go in the second half. St Eunan’s defence really stood firm and some great counter attacking kept the Letterkenny team ahead.
An injury to Cormac O’Kane meant a reshuffle in defence for St Eunan’s College and Keenan Diver was introduced who was an important outlet in the forward line.
There were good performances on the day from Conor McKinney, Cormac Finn, Oisin Cassidy and Conor O’Donnell.
Next up for the College is a meeting with Aquinas, Belfast, on Monday in Cookstown with a throw time of 12:30pm.
St Eunan’s: Eoghan Jordan; Conor O’Donnell, Anthony Gallagher, Brendan Horgan; Ronan McCann, Cormac O’Kane, Oisin Cassidy; Shane O’Donnell, Conor Cullan; Daragh Ellison (0-3), Conor McKinney, Keelan Margey, Connor O’Donnell (1-5); Cormac Finn (0-1), Oran Winston. Subs: Dylan Doogan (0-1), Keenan Diver.
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