ADAM LYNCH’S goal in double quick time and Kevin Bonner’s second-half brace fired St Columba’s College, Stranorlar into the semi-finals of the Donegal Senior Vocational Schools Championship.
St. Columba’s, Stranorlar 3-04 Coláiste na Carraige 0-07
The Stranorlar students overcame Coláiste na Carraige, so often the county’s flag-bearers in this competition, at wind-swept and rain-soaked Ballyshannon.
Conditions were torrid, yet the teams still made for an entertaining fare.
St Columba’s got off to a dream start when Adam Lynch fired home a goal with only 13 seconds on the watch.
They broke from the throw-in and, after the ball changed hands from Eoin Burke to Bonner to Conor Dalton, Lynch applied the finish.
That goal was the separator at half-time, when St Columba’s led 1-3 to 0-3.
Pauric O’Neill’s points kept Coláiste na Carraige in it, but with Conor McBride (2), Shane Gillespie and Paddy Dolan on the mark, they had a three-point lead at the interval.
That said, the tale could have been much different but for two fine saves from St Columba’s goalkeeper Car Dunnion, who denied O’Neill and Paddy McShane with superb saves in the opening half.
Naomh Columba’s O’Neill boomed over two cracking points but, just when it seemed as if they were back in the tie, they were gunned down by Bonner.
Dolan was denied and the ball broke to Bonner, who steered home.
And just moments later, Bonner’s effort from distance deceived goalkeeper Garvey and the deficit was just too much for Carrick to claw back.
Coláiste na Carraige: Colm Garvey; Jordan Burns, Fionn Gallagher, John McNelis; Paddy McShane, Daniel Lyons, Aaron Doherty; Brian O’Donnell, Conor Carr; Oran Doogan, Pauric O’Neill (0-6, 6f), Shane Gillespie (0-1); Pauric McShane, Gary Molloy, Ronan O’Hare. Subs: Tadhg McGinley for F Gallagher (42), Ryan O’Donnell for O’Hare (45).
St. Columba’s, Stranorlar: Carl Dunnion; Johnny Black, Jerome Duffy, Padhraic Patton; Eoin Burke, Aodhfhin McGlynn, Rory Mulligan; Paddy Dolan (0-1), Conor McBride (0-3,1f); Luke Gavigan, Stephen Carr, Chad McSorley; Adam Lynch (1-0), Conor Dalton, Kevin Bonner (2-0). Subs: Joe Boyle for Mulligan and Eoin Donlan for Gavigan (half-time).
Referee: Shane Toolan.
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