College in junior final

2/14/2007 -

St Colman’s 2-11 St Michael’s 0-06

ST. Colmans played great stuff to overcome St. Micheals and reach their first Corn na nOg final in four years.

Starting sharply, with midfielder Niall Donnelly firing over straight from the throw in, Colmans took an early lead that was never surrendered. A pointed free from Jerome Johnston was soon cancelled out by a similar score from Eniskillen, while Tony McGreevy pointed another two frees either side of another Donnelly score.

Playing with a strong breeze, the college were in control for the first 30 minutes, although poor passing and a lot of unforced errors meant that that their six-point halftime lead was not as substantial as it should have been.

The midfield pairing of Donnelly and team captain Conor Gough took control, and with great support from halfbacks Coalan Haughey, Henry Brown and Mathew McNeice, they managed to break up the Enniskillen attacks.

With goalkeeper Joe Halpenny fielding well on his goal-line, the college defence did their best to work the ball up to the full-forward line, where corner men Tony McGreevy and substitute Shea McArdle managed to hold possession and set up points for Ryan Lewis and Eamonn Magee.

Neil Smith, on the edge of the square, caught every ball that was played into him and was instrumental in setting up a goal for Kilcoos’ Johnston.

This score, mid-way through the second half, signalled the end for Enniskillen, and when Lewis smashed another one into the net with 10 minutes left the game was all but over. The full back line of Rauiri Lively, James Watters and Ryan Johnston were out in front for everything, and any ball that came their way during this period was quickly dispatched back down the field.

The College now go into the final this Saturday against a very strong St.Pats Dungannon side at Pearse Ogs, Armagh. With one more game to go, and one more final push required, they are within touching distance of an Ulster title. Hopefully they can go on and bring the first piece of silverware back to Violet Hill this year.

Team: Joe Halpenny, Ryan Johnson, James Watters, Ruairi Lively, Henry Brown, Coalan Haughey, Mathew McNeice, Conor Gough (capt.), Niall Donnelly, Eamonn Magee, Ryan Lewis, Jerome Johnson, James Girvan, Neil Smith and Tony McGreevy.