Year 9 Corn Colmcille Shield Final
St Louis Ballymena 2-12 St Ciarans Ballygawley 1-15 A.E.T.
St.Louis won 3-1 on penalties
https://twitter.com/SLG_PE/status/1641781841181982722/video/4
Eoghan Smith was the St Louis Ballymena hero and his two penalty saves were instrumental as his side won the Corn Colmcille shield final after a penalty shot-out on Friday, beating St Ciaran’s Ballygawley at the Loup.
The two teams met nearly a month ago in the group stages of the competition with St Ciaran’s running out comfortable winners. Facing strong opposition in their group against Donaghmore and Carrickmacross the two teams found themselves in the shield section of the competition. St Louis put on a strong display again St Pius Magherafelt in the semi-final to look for redemption against the skilled Tyrone side.
Both teams played a brilliant brand of football without a sweeper in sight. The coniditons underfoot proved to be tricky after a lot of rain this week. There was little between the sides during the opening half with St Ciarans going 1 up at the break.
St Louis came out strong in the second half and used the long ball to great effect. Conor McKeever pulled the strings at 11 playing some great kick passes into the full forward line and It would be those long balls that caused the danger for the Ballymena side, two resulting in penalties that Jack McQuillan calmly slotted home.
The game looked like it was swinging in favour of St Louis as they went 2 up with 2 minutes to play but Ballygawley kept their cool to hit a brace of points and sent the game into extra-time.
Conor Burns re-started the game in lively fashion by beating his man but narrowly sliding his effort past the post. With no score in the first period of extra-time Leo Wright took the game by the scruff of the neck at the next throw-in to set PJ Molloy up on a trademark slaloming run, resulting in a score. Again the Tyrone men were not going to give up. After a trade of scores, St Ciaran’s had the last shot and with that, came penalties!
The hero of the shoot-out would be St. Louis keeper, Eoghan Smith who showed great composure to save two penalties. A special mention must go to the players on both sides who had the courage to step up to the spot.
Exceptional performances in the St Ciaran’s side came from their keeper Paidi Hetherington who made crucial saves throughout the game. Conal Shevling Jack Holland and Jack Kelly were strong performers in the middle of the park. Luke McCoubery and Lorcan O’Neill were constant dangers upfront.
Marcus McLaughlin conducted play from centre-half back constantly directing traffic and organising his defence. Sean Carty was a player to catch the eye with excellent ball control and great finishing skills reminding those watching on of another dangerous Ballygawley inside forward…
On the St Louis side Year 8 students Lorcan Martin, Oisin O’Brien and Paddy O’Boyle all stood out as star performers. The MOTM from St Ciaran’s was named as Conor McKeever while the St Louis management could not see past Patrick Carey’s commanding role in defence.
There is no doubt that these two teams will meet in the future in UlsterColleges competitons and they are sure to be classics!
St. Louis Ballymena:
1.Eoghan Smith
2. Ruairi Doherty
3 Killian McKenna
4 Lorcan Martin
5 Patrick Carey
27 Oisin O’Brien
7 Liam Kearney
8 Leo Wright
9 Jack McQuillan
10 Paddy O’Boyle
11 Conor McKeever
12 Eanna McGuckian
13 PJ Molloy
14 Tom Convery
15 Eoin Gillen
Subs
Phelim McCloskey for Ruairi Doherty
Conor Burns for Eoin Gillen
Blaine Mullan for Eanna McGuckian
Cathal Davies
Brian Agnew
Noah Bradley
Conall Brady
Caleb Da Prato
Thomas Doherty
Luke Johnston
Corey King
Noah McCamphill
Cathan McCart
Ollie McClements
Rory McConnell
Niall Mulvenna
James Eoin Murray