ST COLUMBA’S COLLEGE went down by three points against Fermanagh Schools in yesterday’s Danske Bank Markey Cup quarter-final at Garvahey.
Fermanagh Schools 1-9 St Columba’s Stranorlar 1-6
With the wind at their backs the Stranorlar side dominated the opening half at the Tyrone Centre of Excellence to lead by eight points at one stage but the Fermanagh out, with midfielder Ryan Morris to the fore, hit back to close the gap to four at the break.
In the second half Fermanagh Schools were the better side as they restricted their opponents to just a single point and when full forward Jason Flanagan blasted to the net eight minutes from time to level matters there was only going to be one winner.
St Columba’s got off to a dream start when a 45 from Conor McBride sailed all the way to the net in the fifth minute. Respective keepers Sean McBride and Thomas Og McGurran both made superb saves before Paddy Dolan, Carl Dunnion and Conor Dalton added to St Columba’s lead.
Gradually though Fermanagh Schools began to come into the game with Morris converting four frees to leave it 1-5 to 0-4 at halftime.
Within 60 seconds of the restart a McBride free pushed St Columba’s five points in front again but that proved to be their last score of the game. Morris and Conor Goodwin closed the gap before Flanagan found the roof of the net to leave it 1-6 apiece.
Fermanagh Schools now had their tails up with Flanagan putting them in front for the first time in the contest with five minutes left to play. The winners were well on top at this stage and Morris concluded the scoring with the point of the game, an outstanding free from out on the left touchline, as they made it through to the last four.
Fermanagh Schools scorers: Ryan Morris (0-7), Jason Flanagan (1-1), Conor Goodwin (0-1).
St Columba’s scorers: Conor McBride (1-2), Chad McSorley, Paddy Dolan, Carl Dunnion and Conor Dalton (0-1 each).
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