St Ronan’s College ran out 2-10 to 2-03 winners in the Loch an Iuir Final in Tyrone on Wednesday afternoon against St Eunan’s College in impressive fashion at Drumragh.
An impressive second-half performance in defence cleared the way for the Armagh side to run riot against St Eunan’s.
Eight well-worked points following the break were enough to secure the title for the Lurgan side and destroy St Eunan’s hopes of a recovery.
Padraíg Gowdy opened the scoring for St Ronan’s with a splendid free-kick after five minutes, but Max Roarty responded a minute later for St Eunan’s with an excellently scored point from open play.
Roarty looked in the mood for the game and he proved his intentions for Eunan’s with a superb finish into the Ronan’s goal, receiving a sublime pass from Christopher Diver after 7 minutes to open up a three-point lead.
St Ronan’s found themselves with an uphill battle before the ten-minute mark, but in need of a swift response, the Lurgan outfit produced three fantastic scores to level the scoreline after 20 minutes.
Rogan McVeigh and Ethan McKenna composed two points from open play before Gowdy secured another point from a free-kick.
Callum Wilson was through on goal for St Eunan’s two minutes later, but Ronan’s goalkeeper Jack Quinn pulled off a great save to keep the Donegal side at bay.
St Ronan’s (Lurgan)
However, Quinn couldn’t parry Christopher Diver’s high-placed effort to make it 1-2 to 0-04 midway through the first half.
After 25 minutes with the game close, St Ronan’s took the lead with some fine work. Rogan McVeigh went on a divine run before eventually setting up Shea Lavery, who finished excellently.
The outstanding goal was followed by a futher point a minute later by J P McAlinden for Ronan’s.
With half-time approaching and St Eunan’s trailing by three scores, Stephen McNamee awarded the Letterkenny side a penalty kick, which Josh Patton converted without hesitation – the score level at 2-2 to 1-5.
In the second half, St Ronan’s dominated for the opening 15 minutes. Four scores opening up for the Armagh side. Patrick O’Hare and Callum Wilson added from open play, while the reliant Gowdy produced two more well-placed free-kicks.
In fact, St Ronan’s dominated for most the second half, winning the School’s final with ease. Their impeccable defensive work reduced St Eunan’s to only one score in the second period, coming by the way of Christoper Diver’s free-kick.
But anyway chance of a comeback was well and truly dashed in the closing moments when Adam Towe broke free, eluding the Eunan’s defence, striking the knockout blow.
It was a well-contested cup final, but only one side looked hungry in the second-half and upon reflection, St Eunan’s will be kicking themselves.
ST. EUNANS: Jack Quinn, Gareth Gallagher, Michael Doherty, Josh Patton, Oran Canning, Jamie Mc Cauley, Donal Gallagher, Sean Gallagher, Brendan O Hagan, Padraig Hughes, Mark Bonner, Christopher Diver, Mandy Kelly, Lorcan Harvey, Max Roarty.
ST.RONAN ’S: Conor Toland, Oisin Sweeney, Thomas Mallon, Eoin Lennon, Aidan Cassidy, Charlie Casey, Adam Towe, Ethan McKenna, Padraig Gowdy, Charlie Haddock, Callum Wilson, Patrick O Hare, J P McAlinden, Rogan McVeigh, Shea Lavery.
REFEREE: Stephen McNamee ( Tyrone ).
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