Danske Bank Flynn Cup final

St Colmcille’s Crossgar 2-4 St Patrick’s Lisburn 3-0

A point from Rian Mahon five minutes from the end of a closely-fought game in Darragh Cross on Monday morning delivered a first ever Danske Bank Flynn Cup for St Colmcille’s Crossgar.

There were opportunities for St Patrick’s Lisburn to grab a draw, or even a win, in the final moments, but the Crossgar defence rallied well around Aaron Keenan, Finn O’Prey and Oliver Quinn while goalie Ryan Dornan pulled off three excellent saves over the course of the game.

All Lisburn’s scores came from the boot of David McNally. He was excellent as was midfielder Charlie McGrandles and Reece Denver-Largey in defence but they were badly in need of a little magic from Eoin Morris who had a big part in the school’s recent victory in Corn Cúchulainn. Morris damaged a thumb in the warm-up and could take no part in the game.

Lisburn had beaten Crossgar in the group stages before Easter and then took out St Mary’s Irvinestown in the quarter-final. They were however rather fortunate to come out on the right side of a 2-8 to 3-4 score-line in the semi-final against St Joseph’s Ravenhill, but on Monday their luck ran out in Darragh Cross.

Crossgar’s Conor Doran got the scoring started with a free, but an excellent finish from McNally put Lisburn ahead. That lead lasted seven minutes before player of the match Orin Casement fired home after a good team move.

Again McNally hit back with his second goal but that was cancelled out just before the break by Casement’s second.

Although Doran clipped over a free at the start of the second half, St Patrick’s earned a penalty soon after and McNally duly completed his hat-trick. Unfortunately it was to be Lisburn’s final score and Orin Casement pulled St Colmcille’s level midway through the half. There was good defence from both teams before Mahon’s winner arrived, but in the end of the day, St Patrick’s will rue a couple of good chances they had to at least bring the game to extra time.

Scorers:

St Colmcille’s: Orin Casement 2-1 (0-1 free), Conor Doran 0-2 (frees), Rian Mahon 0-1

St Patrick’s: David McNally 3-0 (1 pen)

St Colmcille’s: Ryan Dornan, Niall Kelly, Aaron Keenan, Leon Breen, Finn O’Prey, Oliver Quinn, Ryan Jackson, Conor Doran, Eoin Mulligan, Reilly McKibben, Orin Casement, Conor Kearney, Rian Mahon, Thomas Rowden, Preston Breen.

Sub: Zach Walsh for C Kearney.

St Patrick’s: Daniel Wright, Kenneth Nugent, Ethan Annon, Jamie Ross, Shea Scott, Caeden Lees, Reece Denver-Largey, Mohammad Kaddad, Charlie McGrandles, Noah Thompson, Ronan Arthurs, Eoghan McGarry, Kacper Binkowski, David McNally, Darragh McParland

Sub: Jay Bennett for E McGarry