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Mon 25th Apr 2011
Derrylaughan Referee: John Devlin
St. Patrick’s High School Keady won the BT Corn Colmcille for the second time in their history at a very humid Derrylaughan, five years after annexing their maiden title. A spirited and determined second half display was key to the Keady boys overcoming their Belfast rivals.
Keady got the perfect start in the second minute when half forward Mark Brennan of Cremartin shot to the net from distance to open the scoring. St. Mary’s replied immediately to level the scores with three excellent points from play and took the lead with a pointed free and followed up with an excellent goal to give them a four point cushion. Keady’s reply was swift with midfielder Shane McNamee firing a powerful long range shot to the net and a short range free converted by Conor Grimley from the Madden club tied up the scores once more. St. Mary’s hit a purple patch in the final ten minutes of the half hitting over four unanswered points and could have scored more only for a number of excellent saves from Keady goalkeeper Jamie White and resolute defending from Mark McGuigan and Captain Sean Leonard. The final score of the half came from a pointed free by Conor Grimley after good build up work from Martin Carr.
Halftime Score:
St. Patrick’s HS Keady 2:2
St. Mary’s CBS Belfast 1:8
If St. Patrick’s were going to win this title they certainly were going to have to do it the hard way after St. Mary’s scored the opening point of the second half from the throw in to open up a four point gap once again. Keady were no strangers to this situation after being behind at half time in their previous two games, only to come out on the right side of the score board at fulltime. Keady notched the next three points to bring them within touching distance of St. Marys. Midfielders Shane McNamee, Ciaran Treanor and half forward Kevin White began dominating the midfield sector winning several kickouts in a row to provide a platform for Mark Brennan and Conor Grimley to deliver quality ball into the St. Patrick’s full forward line. And it was one of these cross-field passes which found Clady’s Liam Doyle, and he in turn fed his clubmate, sub Patrick Smith, who was up-ended in the box and referee John Devlin had no hesitation in awarding Keady the penalty. Up stepped Shane McNamee to dispatch the penalty clinically to the net for his second goal of the game, Keady now in front for the first time since the sixth minute. McNamee tagged on another point from play and St. Mary’s responded soon after with another good score from play to reduce Keady’s lead. Keady’s half back line of Shea Cullen from Phelim Bradys and Derrynoose pair Sean Leonard and Eoin Finnegan were growing in confidence, so much so that that Finnegan found himself in an attacking position where he picked up a diagonal pass and he fired a rasping shot to the net. Keady followed this score up with a monster free kick from all of forty-five metres by Grimley and a further point from play by Finnegan increased Keady’s advantage. A long ball into the St. Mary’s square broke loose and Granemore’s Martin Carr pulled on it first time to fire in Keady’s fifth goal of the contest. With 5 minutes remaining, Keady lead by 10 points and sensed victory but credit to St. Mary’s they never gave up and mounted a number of attacks in the final minutes only to be repelled by stout and disciplined defending from Liam Doyle, keeper Jamie White and the excellent Fearghal Haughey of Granemore. The St. Mary’s pressure was rewarded with a pointed free kick and a goal in the dying moments, but Keady had done enough with a superb second half performance to finish six point winners on a final score of St. Patrick’s Keady 5:8, St. Mary’s CBS Belfast 2:11.
Competition co-ordinator Neil Gordan praised the quality of football, commitment and sportsmanship displayed by both teams throughout an exciting and tense final before presenting the BT sponsored Corn Colmcille Cup to winning Captain Sean Leonard surrounded by his ecstatic team-mates. The entire Keady panel contributed to this victory during the group and knockout stages and should be very proud of their efforts.
Panel:
Submitted by: Sean O'Connor
