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Naomh Colmcille book final place
08.10.10
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Naomh Colmcille...0-10 Burt...0-8 (Extra time) by Chris McNulty at O’Donnell Park: Photo by Herbie Barr NAOMH Colmcille advanced to the final of the Junior A Championship as they held their nerve in extra-time to overcome local rivals Burt in another tense tussle at O’Donnell Park on Saturday night. Stephen Friel’s men have taken the Junior Championship by storm this year and Saturday’s win booked their place in a first final since 1998. A week earlier, a late, late Barry O’Hagan free earned the Páirc Colmcille men the replay and on Saturday evening the former Armagh star was again a key figure in the win. O’Hagan was everywhere and was truly instrumental in the win, kicking five cool points as well as being a busy figure deep in his own territory. Indeed, on one occasion in extra-time, O’Hagan plucked a ’45 from Paul McHugh from above the crossbar to prevent the Burt men adding a point to their tally. Naomh Colmcille led 0-4 to 0-3 at the break, but it was Burt who enjoyed the better start to the second-half, with the Hibernian Park men going 0-6 to 0-4 in front at a stage. |
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But the men in red and
white looked set to advance when they hit three-in-a-row
to turn the tide again - only for Paul McHugh, with a
45-metre free that was normal time’s final kick, to
force extra time with a real high-pressure kick. Injury deprived Burt of the services of the influential Kevin McDermott, who was forced off during last week’s first game with broken ribs, while Naomh Colmcille were without Cathal Curran, who was also injured in the sides’ first jostle. Just 13 seconds had passed when O’Hagan took receipt of Ciaran Devine’s delivery to open the scoring before |
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he doubled the advantage on
nine minutes from a free. Stephen Davenport, one of the Naomh Colmcille goal heroes last week, came close to rattling the Burt net on 10 minutes, but he was denied by the scrambling Ciaran McDermott after Naomh Colmcille forced the turnover. Burt were level thanks to quick-fire points from Joe Boyle (free) and Ciaran Dowds, but two points in an efficient 60 second spell had Naomh Colmcille back in command. First up, O’Hagan teed up Ciara Callaghan who landed a neat effort off his left foot, before O’Hagan curled over himself after Ryan McKinley did well to hold possession. A brilliant point from distance by McHugh, after taking an off-load from Dowds on the run, made it a one-point game at the interval. Burt levelled it up just 16 seconds after the restart with Boyle on target and by the 41st minute it was the Hibernian Park outfit that led. Niall Campbell curled over neatly from the right flank to give his side the lead for the first time before McHugh, a county minor panellist this year, delightfully found the range with the outside of his right boot. After O’Hagan won and pointed a free, midfielder Ciaran Devine knocked over from 40 metres to level it up again. And with two minutes to go, Naomh Colmcille led again as Ciaran Callaghan won a free for O’Hagan to point. But an additional 20 minutes were forced late in the day as McHugh kept his composure to land a brilliant 45 with the final kick. In the extra period, it was Naomh Colmcille who took command. Sub Patrick O’Donnell put them ahead before a brilliant move concluded with Ciaran Callaghan knocking over. Mark Callaghan had cut out a Burt attack while Devine, O’Hagan and McErlean were also involved before Callaghan stroked over. After O’Hagan saved what looked a certain score when he collected from above the crossbar from a McHugh ’45, Ryan McErlean raised the roof from the Naomh Colmcille contingent two minutes from the end. Brian Sheerin poked over to make for a nervous finish, but the men from the Parish of All Saints had their prayers answered as their side clung on for a famous win that ends over a decade of hurt. Naomh Colmcille take on Naomh Pádraig, Iskaheen, in the final, which is pencilled in for Sunday 17 October. Naomh Colmcille: Marty Callaghan; Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Paul McGill; Gerard Curran, Anthony Grant, Thomas McKinley; Richard Clarke, Ciaran Devine (0-1); Ryan McKinley, Barry O’Hagan (0-5, 3f), Stephen Davenport; Ryan McErlean (0-1), Joe Donaghey, Ciaran Callaghan (0-2). SUBS: Patrick O’Donnell (0-1) for R. McKinley (47 mins); Mark Callaghan for Davenport (59 mins); Eddie Gillespie for Curran (70 mins); Barry McDaid for McErlean (78 mins) Burt: Ciaran McDermott; Johnny Downey, Paul O’Brien, Benny Harrigan; Carl Wilson, Mickey McCann, Seamie O’Donnell; Ciaran Dowds (0-1), Paddy McDermott; Niall Campbell (0-1), Martin Donaghey, Paul McHugh (0-3, 1f); Christy McDermott, Enda McDermott, Joe Boyle (0-2, 1f). SUBS: Brian Sheerin (0-1) for C. McDermott (37 mins); Shane McDaid for Wilson (50 mins); Dara Grant for Donaghey (60 mins). Referee: Robbie O’Donnell (Naomh Mhuire) For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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