South Antrim U-12 O’Donnell Cup final
St Galls 4-08-2-00 St Johns
From Kevin Herron at Woodlands
A dominant second-half display saw St Galls lift the O’Donnell Cup with a 4-08-2-00 victory over St Johns in this morning final at Woodlands.
It was the Johnnies who made the brighter start and went in front inside of three minutes through Lewis Rafferty, who rounded St Galls keeper Cillian O’Hare and slipped the ball to the net.
It took St Galls until the 14th minute to respond, the Milltown side went all out to close the deficit but ran into a resilient St Johns defensive structure that was eventually breached as Aodhan Piece popped the ball over the bar.
Daire Tracey then closed the gap further with a second point before the break and in first-half injury time the Galls had the chance to restore parity at the break and took their chance through Padraig Murray Jnr as the sides headed in with the scores level at 1-00-0-03.
There was a case of déjà vu in the air as three minutes into the second-half St Johns regained their lead with a goal.
Fionn McCallin’s free dropped into a congested area and Odhran Quinn appeared to get the telling touch to send the ball to the net and restore his sides goal advantage (2-00-0-03).
St Galls reply was almost instant this time as Padraig Murray converted his second free of the afternoon and then steered the ball over the bar under pressure to close the gap to a single point.
A minute shy of the midway point in the second-half the lead changed hands for the first time as St Galls forged ahead through a fine strike from Conor McVeigh.
McVeigh could have added a quick-fire second goal – though instead opted for a point to give his side a three-point lead (1-06-2-00).
St Johns were chasing for the first time in the contest but in the final ten minutes St Galls further flexed their muscles.
Dylan Stitt popped the ball into the path of Padraig Murray who shaped for a shot and then rifled low past Brody Braniff to make it 2-06-2-00.
Conor McVeigh increased his sides lead with an outstanding point and was denied a further goal with Brody Braniff making a brave block after some intelligent play by Conor Haughey.
A minute from time St Galls found their third goal as a high ball from Aaron Mackle was scrambled to the net by Barra Bellew.
Aaron Butler followed-up with a further point and with almost the last play of the game Padraig Murray let-fly with a sensational effort that flew to the net like a bullet to give his side a 4-08-2-00 win at the games conclusion.
