COLÁISTE NA CARRAIGE had Aaron Doherty to thank for a late winner in extra-time against Carndonagh Community Schools in today’s Donegal Schools Under-16A final.
Coláiste na Carraige 1-7 Carndonagh Community School 1-6 (after extra-time)
The sides were gridlocked at 1-6 apiece at full-time with neither managing to sneak ahead in the first period of extra-time. The inspirational Doherty, though, six minutes into the second period held his nerve to score what proved to be the winning point. He scored 1-4 in all.
Photo caption: The victorious Coláiste na Carraige side that won the Donegal Schools Under-16A final against Carndonagh Community School this afternoon at Magheragallon
There was nothing between the teams in an evenly matched first half, following which the score was deadlocked at 1-2 to 1-2.
Coláiste na Carraige would probably have been the happier at that point as they, with the aid of a breeze, were thankful of a debatable penalty to go in on terms.
In first half injury-time, Doherty’s effort at goal cannoned off a defender, from Doherty’s resultant 45 referee Martin Coll awarded a penalty for pulling.
Up stepped Doherty – the Coláiste na Carraige centre-back – to register a goal for his team before Lanty Molloy brought a good save from Daniel McCarron in the Carndonagh goal and David Love was just off target with an effort on the stroke of half-time.
It was the Inishowen team who made the brighter opening. Although Molloy opened the scoring for Coláiste na Carraige and Kieran Farren levelled it, Colm Garvay had to save well from Joe Doherty on 12 minutes.
Then, on 20 minute, Carndonagh did manufacture a goal when Fintan McClure’s long ball was fielded by Daniel Houghton, who turned and slammed home a goal.
The Carndonagh Community School team that lost out to Coláiste na Carraige in extra-time in the Donegal Schools Under-16A final this afternoon in Magheragallon
Against the wind in the second half perhaps suited Coláiste na Carraige’s running game. Molloy saw a goal chanced blocked by a combination of McCarron and Cormac Cullinan.
Two fine points from play by Brian O’Donnell and a couple of placed balls from Doherty put Coláiste na Carraige 1-6 to 1-4 in front with 12 minutes to play.
Then, Carndonagh goalkeeper McCarron made two excellent saves to keep his side in the game, both to get the better of Ryan O’Donnell. That spurred Carndonagh on in an attacking sense and they mustered late scores from Farren and an angled effort in the 64th minute from Conor O’Donnell to bring the game into extra-time at 1-6 to 1-6.
There were no further scores in the first period of extra-time. However, Doherty scored the only one of the second to ensure Coláiste na Carraige retained the title they won 12 months ago and overcame the same opponents in the form of spirited Carndonagh as they did at Under-14A level.
Coláiste na Carraige: Colm Garvey; Jordan Burns, Fionn Gallagher; Gavin Moore, Cormac Ó Leime, Aaron Doherty (1-4, 0-3f, 1-0 pen), Kenny Duggan; Brian O’Donnell (0-2), Oran Doogan; Garry Molloy, Lanty Molloy (0-1), Ryan O’Donnell; Cillian O’Malley, David Love, Tadhg McGinley. Subs: Oisin Byrne for O’Malley (51), Eric Carr for Love (60).
Carndonagh Community School: Daniel McCarron; Donal Doherty, Cormac Cullinan, Brendan Doherty; Conor Bambrick, Ciaran Doherty, Oisin McGonagle; Conor O’Donnell (0-1), Luke Devlin; Fionn McClure (0-1), Kieran Farren (0-3, 1f), Oisin Hession; Michael Friel (0-1), Daniel Houghton (1-0), Joe Doherty. Subs: Darren Donaghy for J Doherty (43), Lochlainn Bradley for D Doherty (51), Conor O’Donnell for Friel (52), J Doherty for Bambrick (66), Andrew McDaid for C O’Donnell (68), C O’Donnell for McGonagle (74).
Referee: Martin Coll (Gaoth Dobhair).
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