Ulster Vocational Schools Senior Final
Coláiste Cholmcille 4-11
Coláiste na Carraige 0-12
Coláiste Cholmcille claimed the Ulster Vocational Schools senior title with a resounding 11-point victory over fellow Donegal scholars, Coláiste na Carraige, this afternoon in Irvinestown.
In what was a super performance that, for many of those present, rekindled fond memories of the famous De La Salle vintage and their various successes from the not too distant past.
In the end, the lopsided scoreline did flatter them somewhat. But there was absolutely no doubt that the Ballyshannon school was the better outfit here.
Heading down the home stretch and with stopper Sean Taylor denying Carrick on three occasions throughout with some excellent bouts of goalkeeping, the leaders were still within five points of being pegged back.
Despite holding an obvious upper hand in most areas, Coláiste Cholmcille struggled to display that dominance where it mattered most – on the scoreboard.
However, with Oisin Rooney and Conall Sweeny smashing in three-pointers in the final moments, Coláiste Cholmcille finished in a manner that was befitting of their soon to be title of provincial champions.
Back at the start, and despite losing Matthew McClay and Dylan Gallagher to early black cards, it was Coláiste Cholmcille that found impressive traction.
Michael McKenna got them off the mark before Aaron Doherty, who would finish with a personal tally of nine points, squared matters with a brilliant ping from the wide left.
Dean Carroll handed the Ballyshannon cubs the lead again and, with Jakeb Machunik firing in the game’s opening three-pointer on eight minutes, Coláiste Cholmcille jumped to a 1-2 to 0-1 advantage.
Doherty clipped over his side’s second of the contest from a placed ball as he bid to steady those around him. But that intervention failed to have the desired affect as a route one delivery into the area was batted home from close range by Dylan Gallagher.
Doherty again responded from another free but that was quickly cancelled out by Nathan Boyle up the other end. Carrick then spurned a golden opportunity to raise a green flag of their own when Kenny Doogan arrowed wide.
Ryan O’Donnell was also denied when Taylor beat away his drive. A clinical incision right through the middle by Doherty was off loaded to Odhran Doogan but his strike cannoned back off the foot of the post
A Doherty free moved Carrick to four but with Dean Carroll (2) and Seamus Keogh getting though for Coláiste Cholmcille, it was they that departed at the midpoint with a comfy eight-point cushion.
Half-time: Coláiste Cholmcille 2-6:0-4 Coláiste na Carraige.
Coláiste Na Carraige needed to hit the front foot first after the restart but it was the opposition that struck the opening blow of the second period through a Carroll over.
Finally, Carrick began to stir and, with Lanty Molloy and Doherty (3) combining to claim the next four points of the contest, by the 38th minute they’d managed to reel the leaders back in to six, on a difference of 2-8 to 1-8.
Coláiste Cholmcille took that as their cue to once again put their foot back on the gas. They responded with points from Carroll (free), Jason Granaghan and Conall Sweeny to shoot out to an eight-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Substitute Gary Molloy was next to be denied by the brilliant Taylor. The equally impressive Doherty continued to tick over his side’s scores but that headway was stroked out by Michael McKenna.
Another replacement Ronan McKenna and Doherty once more, dragged Carrick out to 0-12 for the afternoon as the lead was whittled down to just five points with almost three minutes of normal time still to go.
Carrick had looked dangerous in front of goal throughout so belief remained with their large support that something could still be salvaged from the dimming embers.
But with Coláiste Cholmcille turning the screw in unmerciful fashion through Rooney and Sweeney; in the end they made sure that the Markey Cup will now reside in the halls of the Ballyshannon school for the rest of 2017.
Colaiste Cholmcille: Sean Taylor; Cian McGloin, Jason Granaghan (0-1), Caolan Drummond; Conall Sweeny (1-1), Robbie Ryan, Ryan McKenna; Matthew McClay, Dean Carroll (0-5,2f); Jackeb Machunik (1-0), Shane McGrath, Michael McKenna (0-2); Dylan Gallagher (1-0), Oisin Rooney (1-0), Nathan Boyle (0-1).
Subs: Shane Gillespie for McClay (5mins, black card) Seamus Keogh (0-1) for D Gallagher (19mins, black card).
Colaiste Na Carraige: Colm Garvey; Jordan Burns, Paddy McShane, Pauric McShane; Cormac O Leime, Fionn Gallagher, Aaron Doherty (0-9,5f); Brian O'Donnell, Oran Doogan; Lanty Molloy (0-1), Kenny Doogan, Shane Gillespie; Tadhg McGinley, David Love, Ryan O'Donnell.
Subs: Gary Molloy for Love (ht), Ronan Gillespie (0-1) for R O'Donnell (57mins).
Referee: Joe Corcoran (Fermanagh).
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