ST EUNAN’S WERE the hugely impressive winners of the Spirit of Paul McGirr Ulster Under-16Â Club Champions Tournament against St Peter’s from Warrenpoint this afternoon in Dromore.
St Eunan’s 6-10 St Peter’s, Warrenpoint 1-6
The side managed by Pauric Ryan ran in six goals to defeat their opponents from Co Down with Michael Gallagher grabbing a second half hat-trick of goals, while Daragh Ellison, Conor O’Donnell and a Patrick Tobin penalty sealed the 19-point win.
In an excellent display from the Letterkenny team, they rolled through the gears having been 1-6 to 1-2 in front at half-time to take home a first ever provincial title to the Cathedral Town.
The opening goal came on 15 minutes and it was masterfully crafted. From a run by Shane O’Donnell, Sean Breen played a long ball into Gallagher, who laid off for Ellison to tuck past Ryan Haughey in the St Peter’s goal.
That made the score 1-2 to 0-0 with Gallagher having been denied an opening goal moments beforehand, as Shea Madden, the Warrenpoint full-back, cleared off his own goalline.
St Eunan’s looked in control early on with Sean Breen popping over two scores and it took until the 20th minute for St Peter’s to get off the mark through a point from Eoghan Byrne.
However, St Peter’s did fashion a goal on 28 minutes when Byrne’s strong run set up Eoin Carr to shoot past Eoin O’Boyle and St Eunan’s interval lead was four points.
That late concession would’ve acted as a warning for those in black and amber but they enjoyed a second half they might only have dreamed of.
Both Conor O’Donnell and Padraig McGettigan had early second half goal chances before Gallager, with a fine individual effort after a strong run, smashed home his side’s second goal on 32 minutes to make the scoreline 2-6 to 1-2.
St Eunan’s refused to take the foot off the pedal. Conor O’Donnell had another effort saved by Haughey, only for Gallagher to tuck home the rebound on 41 minutes.
At that stage, St Eunan’s were flying. Further points came courtesy of Ellison and Conor O’Donnell before Gallagher scored his third goal of the afternoon on 51 minutes after a kick-out was intercepted.
It was 4-9 to 1-3 at that stage and Conor O’Donnell got a goal his own displayed certainly merited when he side-footed St Eunan’s fifth on 54 minutes.
[adrotate group=”53″]St Peter’s managed to tag a point here and there, with Aaran McBurney and Byrne scoring. A comeback was long since out of the question and Kieran Tobin scored a penalty late on to complete the win after Haughey was penalised for a foot block.
St Eunan’s: Eoin O’Boyle; Anthony Gallagher, Cormac O’Kane, Brendan Horgan; Conor McKinney, Sean Ryan, Peter McEniff; James Kelly, Shane O’Donnell; Sean Breen (0-2), Daragh Ellison (1-2), Michael Gallagher (3-2); Cormac Finn, Padraig McGettigan (0-1), Conor O’Donnell (1-3, 45). Subs: Ronan McCann and Ronan McGeehin for Finn and McKinney (49), Patrick Tobin (1-0, pen) Ben Whelan for McGettigan, Michael Shiel for Gallagher (58), Odhran Winston for C O’Donnell (60).
St Peter’s, Warrenpoint: Ryan Haughey; Sean O’Hare, Shea Madden, Matthew Maginn; Jamie Lynch, Peter Sweeney, Conor Laverty (0-2); Ruairà McCormack, Eoin Carr (1-0); Ryan O’Hare, Ruairà Kernan, Eoghan Byrne (0-3, 1f); Cian McLaughlin, Aaron McBurney (0-1), Kohree Hourican. Subs: Harry Houlahan for McBurney (22), Allan Booth for McLoughlin (half-time), Thomas O’Hare for S O’Hare (39), Callum Davis for McLoughlin (52), Nathan Gibney for Maginn (57).
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Omagh St Enda’s)
Tags: