Gaelfast Year 8 Antrim Cup Final
St. Mary’s CBGS 7-05-6-06 Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock
Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly
Photos by Bert Trowlen
St. Mary’s fought back from 5-02-3-02 behind at the break to claim the Year 8 Gaelfast Antrim Cup after a breath-taking final against Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock at Dunsilly on Thursday evening.
There was much anticipation for the all Belfast final after both sides came through their respective semi-final clashes the previous Wednesday against St Malachy’s and Coaliste Feirste.
The Glen Road youngster’s laid siege to the St’ Pat’s goals early on, but goalkeeper Jake Doran dealt with the early pressure well.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the form of a Padraig Kelly goal after three minutes. Jude Gamble followed up with a point and a converted Kelly free had the simmerian’s 1-02 ahead approaching the 10thminute.
Knock began to apply pressure at the other end and like St. Mary’s, were off target with their opening attempts before Finn Green finally dropped a shot into the net.
Odhran Lynch added his sides first point of the evening and the game was level midway through the half with Oran Mills seeing his shot rise over the bar- following a terrific save from Ollie Brownlee that denied Mills a certain goal.
Mills wouldn’t have long to wait and 60-seconds later got the better of Brownlee with a fine finish to the net.
It was end to end stuff and St. Mary’s hit back and levelled on 16 minutes through a thumping Daire Gault shot that dropped to the net to make it 2-02 apiece.
Less than 60-seconds later and Knock hit the front again through a fine individual goal from Aidan Dobbs, Darragh Conway would follow-up with his sides fourth shortly after and the East-Belfast side were in the ascendancy with the interval looming.
Ollie Brownlee made a further terrific save; however he was helpless to prevent Aidan Dobbs from doubling his goal tally for the half.
St. Mary’s were in desperate need of a score before break and found one in injury-time through Caolan Cosgrove’s flick-on that found the net to ensure his remained in touch and trailed 5-02-3-02.
Like the opening half, it was St. Mary’s who applied the early pressure upon the resumption and Padraig Kelly added to his tally with a further point. But Knock soon increased their lead and Finn Green doubled his goal account after a tremendous team move that culminated in a close-range finish to push his side 6-02-3-03 to the good.
The eight-point advantage was short-lived though as St. Mary’s hit back immediately at the other end, Ollie Brownlee found Jude Gamble to burst forward, he switched the play, and it found its way to Padraig Kelly to drop in his second goal of the evening and give his side renewed hope.
Successive points from Oran Mills and Odhran Lynch in response had Our Lady’s and St Pat’s further clear, but Kelly netted his hat-trick and then converted his second free of the evening after Cruz-Devlin had somehow emerged from the corner in possession of the ball- despite the odds being against him and was fouled.
A converted free from Mills extended his sides lead to four, though with the game entering the final ten minutes- things were on a knife-edge and a grandstand finish was on the cards. St. Mary’s belief was growing, and the energetic Conan Mulligan drove his team forward on numerous occasions.
The bare minimum separated the sides on 42 minutes as Criostoir McCabe surged into a shooting position and sent his effort just beyond the reach of Jake Doran and into the corner of the net to make it 6-05-6-04.
Knock almost restored their four-point advantage after an excellent sweeping move forward, but Caolan McGarry’s knock on was turned behind by Dara O’Sullivan- who celebrated his block like a goal at the other end and showed how much it meant to the young O’Donnell’s number nine.
The interception would prove vital as St. Mary’s hit the front for the first time since the 13th minute. Ollie Brownlee picked out Caolan Cosgrove with his kick-out and he switched to Criostoir McCabe- who had his run halted. McCabe picked out Padraig Kelly from the resulting free and he in turn found Conan Mulligan, a slip to Jude Gamble then saw him dip the ball over Jake Doran and into the Knock goal to edge his side 7-04-6-05 up.
Our Lady and St Pat’s went on the attack and tried to switch roles again, they didn’t manage to do that but did close the gap as Caolan McGarry bore down on goal- though his shot was too high and went over the black-spot for a point.
St. Mary’s had the chance to wrap things up when Padraig Kelly popped the ball off to Marc Killyleagh who jinked and dropped in a shot that crashed off the crossbar, the loose ball was intercepted by Alfie Manning to turn and hit the post for the second time with his follow-up and a terrific opportunity went a begging.
Padraig Kelly would claim the game’s final score, converting his third free of the evening off the deck – but his side would face a nervy finish as Knock earned themselves one last chance of a goal that would have flipped things on its head. Oran Mills floated the ball into a congested square- though Criostoir McCabe emerged with the ball, cleared his lines and final whistle sounded from referee Paul Burns to bring to an end a truly magnificent game of football.
Antrim, Lámh Dhearg and Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock legend Frankie Wilson was on hand to present St. Mary’s captain Cillian Murphy with the trophy and he thanked Gaelfast, both sets of coaches and match officials and also parents for contributing to what has been a successful initiative to integrate the new Year 8s to Gaelic football in the respective schools.
OL&SPK: Jake Doran, Rory Stephens, Charlie Murray, Conor Harkin, Matt McConville, Jamie Craig, Eoin Campbell, Fionn McKay, Caolan McGarry, Darragh Conway, Aidan Dobbs, Sean Cunningham, Finn Green, Reuben Collins, Oran Mills, Thomas Gilsenan, Jarlath Price, Odhran Lynch, Leo Kennedy, Conor O’Doherty.
St Mary’s CBGS: Ollie Brownlee, Cillian Murphy, Cormac Hamilton, Daniel Robb, Daire Gault, Cormac Dempster, Conan Mulligan, Criostoir McCabe, Dara O’Sullivan, Caolan Cosgrove, Padraig Kelly, Cruz Devlin-Amoh, Alife Manning, Jude Gamble, Marc Killyleagh, Ronan Higham, Daniel O’Connor, Cormac McDowell, Darragh McKernan, Jack Rafferty, Orin Agnew, Nathan Brown, Jude Burns, Caolan Mullan, Evan Matthews, Michael O’Dubhfinn, Sean McMullan, Ryan Holmes, Shea Higham, Finn Lawlor.
Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgall’s)
