COLÁISTE NA CARRAIGE never took their foot off the accelerator as they overcame St Columba’s from Stranorlar in this afternoon’s Donegal Vocational Schools’ Under-16A semi-final.
Coláiste na Carraige 1-20 St Columba’s, Stranorlar 0-5
The Kilcar-Naomh Columba amalgamation put their stamp on the game early and seldom let their standards drop thereafter at Deele College in Raphoe and will now look forward to a final meeting against Carndonagh Community School.
Photo caption: The Coláiste na Carraige panel who this afternoon overcame St Columba’s Stranorlar in the Donegal Vocational Schools Under-16A semi-final at Deele College in Raphoe
It’s a repeat from the final at Under-14A level two years ago, which the south-western school won 6-7 to 1-5 on an afternoon in Convoy where four Carrick goals in the last seven minutes made the margin of victory look a little more comfortable than it might’ve been.
Today in Raphoe, the margin was comfortable, though. Paddy Boyle’s Coláiste na Carraige were well-drilled throughout and having mopped up the middle third and possessing strong ball carriers, had Aaron Doherty then to pick up the loose change – he would kick eight frees and contribute much else besides from centre-back.
St Columba’s, managed by Jimmy Phair, struggled to get into the game and by half-time, with no major breeze to consider, were 0-9 to 0-1 down.
It took until the 22nd minute for the Stranorlar team to get on the scoresheet, which they managed when Paddy Dolan popped over a free but that only made the score 0-7 to 0-1.
The St Columba’s Stranorlar side before this afternoon’s Donegal Vocational Schools’ Under-16A semi-final at Deele College in Raphoe
In all, Coláiste na Carraige had nine different scorers, with Garry Molloy and Lanty Molloy contributing three and two respectively.
The only goal of the game was well-worked, something from the Coláiste na Carraige blueprint, with Ryan O’Donnell shooting past Ciaran Foy on 39 minutes to finish off a move where there was always a support runner. Oran Doogan, Tadhg McGinley and Cormac Ó Leime were all breaking forward before O’Donnell found a pocket of space on the right to score.
That made the score 1-13 to 0-4 with St Columba’s fortunes improving only marginally in the second half. Chad McSorley had scored their first point from play on 31 minutes and Oisin Gallen also scored two from play.
However, it wasn’t a matter of ‘how’ more of ‘how many’ in the closing stages with the contest long since over. Coláiste na Carraige scored the last six points of the afternoon to cap an 18-point win but although mightily impressive, will understand that no silverware has been captured just yet.
Coláiste na Carraige: Colm Garvey; Gavin Moore, Fionn Gallagher (0-1), Jordan Burns; Cormac Ó Leime, Aaron Doherty (0-8, 8f), Kenny Doogan (0-1); Brian O’Donnell (0-2), Oran Doogan; Garry Molloy (0-3), Lanty Molloy (0-2), Ryan O’Donnell (1-1); Cealan Curran (0-1), David Love, Tadhg McGinley (0-1). Subs: Dylan O’Gara and Oisin Byrne for Love and McGinley (47), Dylan Kelly for Moore (50), Eoin Cormack for L Molloy (53), Johnny Byrne and Cillian O’Malley for O’Donnell and G Molloy (58).
St Columba’s, Stranorlar: Ciaran Foy; Johnny Black, Joe Boyle, Stephen Carlin; Jack Burke, Rory Mulligan, Conor McGrenra; Chad McSorley (0-1), Paddy Dolan (0-2, 1f); Tim Callaghan, John Moore, Corrie-lee Bogan; Joe McGill, Oisin Gallen (0-2), Conor Patton.
Referee: Paddy McGeever (Glenfin).
Tags: