Danske Bank Ulster Colleges Corn na nÓg Final

St Macartan’s College Monaghan 2-8 St Patrick’s College Maghera 0-13

By Colm Shalvey 

St Macartan’s College, Monaghan won the Corn na nÓg for the first time ever in a thrilling final against St Patrick’s College, Maghera at Garvaghey yesterday evening. Goals by Karl Gallagher and Lochlainn Power kept the Sem in touch in the first half, at the end of which the teams were level, and although the Monaghan side fell behind after the re-start, they finished strongly.

The Sem kicked three of the last four scores to edge a game where the sides were never separated by more than two points.

St Macartan’s were first off the mark through a Karl Gallagher point, but scores by Callum Murray and Enda Downey (2) moved Maghera ahead.

A loose ball then fell for Gallagher to sweep home the opening goal on 13 minutes and although Maghera threatened to respond a couple of times, managing points from Saoirse Lagan and Ethan Doherty, Niall McKenna got one back for the Sem.

Points from Seán Kearney and Shea Murray kept St Patrick’s firmly in touch. But Conor Lappin replied from a free, before a foul on McKenna allowed Lochlainn Power to continue his goal-scoring form from the penalty spot.

Maghera had a goal by Callum Murray disallowed for a square-ball infringement when a Downey free dropped short, but Downey then converted a brace of frees to level it up at 0-9 to 2-3 at half-time.

Downey landed the first point of the second half and Shea Murray doubled Maghera’s lead, but well-taken efforts from Conor Devlin and Bradley Maguire brought the Sem back on level terms.

A fine score by Lagan was then cancelled out by Maguire and although Downey tapped over a free for his sixth point, an inspirational equaliser by Christopher Flood left the sides on terms in the 58^thminute.

Lappin edged the Sem ahead just past the hour-mark and they remained in front throughout the six added minutes, with Maghera going close to a last-gasp leveller.

Exuberant celebrations greeted the final whistle for St Macartan’s, who will now get their name on the Corn na nÓg for the first time.

St Macartan’s College: C Caulfield; M Meehan, J McAdam (Capt.), R Boyle; A Brennan, C Flood (0-1), C Devlin (0-1); O Fagan, J McPhillips; C Lappin (0-2, 1f), K Gallagher (1-1), L Power (1-0, pen); C McHugh, B Maguire (0-2), N McKenna (0-1).

Subs: T Moyna for McHugh (36), D Murray for McKenna (40), M Carville for Lappin (60 + 4).

St Patrick’s College: C McGilligan; S Turner, A McGuckin, J McWilliams; O McClafferty (Capt.), C Milne, PJ McAleese; S Murray (0-2), S McKenna; E Downey (0-6, 4f), E Doherty (0-1), S Kearney (0-1); C Higgins, C Murray (0-1), S Lagan (0-2).

Subs: J McGurk for Higgins (46), F Murphy for C Murray (52).

Referee: P Coyle (Tyrone)

Report taken from http://ulstercollegesgaa.org/   Visit it for up to date fixtures, results and match reports.