ST EUNAN’S talented crop of U-14s had too much for a spirited Urris team in this afternoon’s U-14 All-County League Division 1 final at St Mary’s Park in Convoy.
St Eunan’s 8-17 Urris 4-3
The Letterkenny side have been in imperious form all season and have another piece of silverware to add to their success at Féile earlier in the summer.
At St Mary’s Park they were dominant and had starring performances from, in particular, captain Daragh Ellison, who scored 2-7, while Shane O’Donnell grabbed 3-4.
After rolling off five early points, the first goal came when Ellison intercepted a kick-out from Urris goalkeeper Conor Doherty to lob home on 17 minutes. A second duly arrived when O’Donnell shot on the turn three minutes later.
Seven minutes before the break, Dylan Doogan was alert enough to get a telling fist on a shot from Ellison and by half-time, St Eunan’s were 3-9 to 0-1 in front.
The only score that Urris had managed was a fine effort from Pearse McCarron but the Inishowen outfit certainly rallied after the break.
Only 15 seconds of the second half had elapsed when McCarron fired in to bring the Urris support some voice before the impressive Jack Doherty then knocked over a free.
St Eunan’s, though, were powerful going forward and eight minutes into the half, O’Donnell scored a fine individual effort. Then, Oran Winston was on hand to tuck home a rebound a minute later after Doherty had made a good save from O’Donnell.
On 43 minutes, the Urris netminder was unfortunate when he again made a sound stop, this time from Ronan Daly but Ellison was on hand to make the score 6-16 to 1-3.
A belting effort from Pauric McGettigan was enough for a seventh St Eunan’s goal nine minutes from time, with the midfielder almost ripping the net with the power of his shot.
Undaunted, Urris continued to show positive streaks when in attack. Their endeavours were certainly rewarded when McCarron scored a beautiful chip that went in off the underside of the crossbar on 54 minutes and then  Dean Harkin added another goal when he swept the ball into the bottom corner soccer style.
A minute from time, Luke Doherty bagged a fourth goal for Urris – blasting into the top corner and then the same player then rattled the St Eunan’s goal post. However, O’Donnell, with his third goal of the match put the cherry on top of St Eunan’s win following what was a very sporting occasion.
St Eunan’s: Oisin Randles; Peadar Devenney, David Smith, James McLaughlin; Donal Higgins, Conor O’Donnell, Charlie Worth (0-1); Shane O’Donnell (3-4), Pauric McGettigan (1-1), Jonathan Coady, Daragh Ellison (2-7, 1f), Rory McGinty; Dylan Doogan (1-2), Oran Winston (1-2), Ronan Daly. Subs: Oisin Bradley for Worth (29), Andrew Grant for McGinty (48), Ciaran Tobin for Coady (59).
Urris: Conor Doherty; Killian McCarron, David McGonagle, Matthew Brennan; Eoin McLaughlin, Oisin Devlin, Conor Doherty; Gavin McDaid, Michael Doherty; Tiernan McDonald, Luke Doherty (1-0), Jamie McGonagle; Nathan McKinney, Jack Doherty (0-2), Pearse McCarron (2-1). Subs: Dean Harkin (1-0) for McCarron (35), Aaron Jackie for C Doherty (41), Anton McLaughlin and Paul Doherty for E McLaughlin and J McGonagle (59).
Referee: Ciara Foy (St Mary’s Convoy).
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