COLÁISTE NA CARRAIGE used the Irvinestown elements to perfection as they overcame St Colm’s, Draperstown to advance to the Danske Bank Under-16 Arthurs Cup semi-finals.
Coláiste na Carraige 2-9 St Colm’s, Draperstown 0-10
Leading 0-5 to 0-1 from the first half, things didn’t look good when St Colm’s narrowed the margin early in the second half, particularly since the south-west Donegal men had Storm Henry howling in their faces.
Goals by Gary Molloy and Aaron Doherty did the business on an afternoon when Coláiste na Carraige had goalkeeper Colm Garvey and the woodwork to thank at different stages.
Lanty Molloy, Dylan Kelly, two from Doherty and another by Gary Molloy sent Paddy Boyle’s men 0-5 to 0-1 up at the close of the first period.
It felt like it wasn’t enough and it was the Draperstown lads who began the better in the second half.
Gavin Donnelly – only on as a half-time substitiute – crashed off the crossbar in the opening minute of the new half.
John Paul Devlin arched over a free and Ryan Doyle added a point from play to reel in the deficit.
Coláiste na Carraige’s response was just perfect and they hit 1-3 in a lethal four-minute spell.
Doherty, Lanty Molloy and Kelly pointed as the Carrick students found their groove.
On 40 minutes, they bagged their opening goal. Gary Molloy picked up possession inside his own ’45, surged his way past four defenders and smashed to the back of the net for a 1-8 to 0-3 lead.
Devlin hit the crossbar as St Colm’s sought a way back, before Mark Farrelly, with a soccer-style shot, scraped off the base of the post.
Two minutes later, Coláiste na Carraige bagged a second goal. Doherty cut in from the right-hand side and lashed a blistering shot to the far corner.
Farrell and two frees from Devlin brought St Colm’s closer again, but Doherty showed superb skill to land a free into the breeze.
If there was any doubt, it was put to bed when goalkeeper Garvey pulled off a terrific save to keep out Aaron Bradley’s shot.
Coláiste na Carraige: Colm Garvey; Oisin Byrne, Fionn Gallagher, Gavin Moore; Cormac Ó Leime, Aaron Doherty (1-4, 2f, 1 ’45), Kenny Doogan; Brian O’Donnell, Oran Doogan; Gary Molloy (1-1), Lanty Molloy (0-2), Michael Lyons; Dylan Kelly (0-2), David Love, Tadhg McGinley.
St Colm’s, Draperstown: Tom McGovern; John Paul Devlin (0-6, 5f), Aaron Bradley (0-1), Gavin McGlone; Ryan Scullion, Ciaran Doyle, James Cuskenan; Marty Bradley, Rory Kelly; Eunan McBride, Ronan Hamill, Mark Farrelly (0-1); Ryan Doyle (0-2), Noel Rafferty, Daniel McCullough. Subs: Gavin Donnelly for McCullagh (half-time), Ronan McKenna for Kelly (42), Ruairi O’Hagan for McGlone (42).
Referee: Shaun McCartan (Tyrone).
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