Antrim U-17 C Football Final
St Teresa’s 2-05-1-10 St Comgall’s
Kevin Herron reports from the Bear Pit
St Comgall’s survived a late St Teresa’s fightback to clinch the U-17 C Football Championship, running out 1-10-2-05 winners over the Glen Road outfit as the Bear Pit on Sunday morning.
Pearse McAuley’s goal was the difference at the interval, but his side had the luxury of an extra man after St Teresa’s lost Darragh McStravick to a red card.
St Teresa’s found themselves six in arrears prior to Fiachra McDonnell steering home and a 60th minute Rhys Measaigh strike had the game on a knife-edge before Tiarnan Floyd fisted over to make sure of the win for his side at the end of a compelling encounter.
Torin Hodkinson converted an early free, but Fiachra McDonnell levelled things from the same scenario.
The games opening goal arrived after nine minutes and fell to the Antrim outfit as Pearse McAuley was slipped in and rolled a low shot past Ethan O Bearain in the St Teresa’s goal.
They extended their lead through an excellent Jude Rafferty point and then Torin Hodkinson switched the ball in field to Daniel McLornan to swing over and give his side a 1-03-0-01 lead.
Rhys Measaigh produced a fine score in response, but St Teresa’s were dealt a huge blow when Darragh McStravick was dismissed for a stamp in front of referee Piarais McCaffrey.
Despite their numerical disadvantage they would reduce the deficit at the break with a further McDonnell free ensuring that McAuley’s goal was the difference at midway stage.
St Teresa’s made it three scores on the spin with Tiernan Headley converting an early second half free that moved the 14-men to within two points.
Hodkinson doubled his account in reply, again coming from the placed ball and St Comgall’s surged further clear.
A smart and clinical sequence saw Leo McAleer pop the ball to Pearse McAuley and in turn offloaded to Liam Phinn to direct his high shot between the posts.
Successive frees from Hodkinson and Phinn then saw their side open up a 1-07-0-04 lead with a quarter of an hour remaining.
St Teresa’s needed a source of inspiration and found it on 47 minutes. Rhys Measaigh floated a ball into the danger area where Fiachra McDonnell pounced the palmed the ball low into the corner to restore some belief.
Comgall’s talisman Hodkinson swung over his first from play after his free dropped short to substitute Aidan Shortt- who returned him, and Hodkinson expertly directed the ball over.
Scores were then traded between Anton McGarachan and Hodkinson as St Comgall’s held a degree of insurance with time fast elapsing.
A grandstand finish was on the cards however as St Teresa’s found their second goal of the half.
Rhys Measaigh picked up possession and drove from deep before dispatching a shot into the bottom corner to reduce arrears to the bare minimum (1-09-2-05).
Tiarnan Floyd would quell any anxiety, fisting over what would prove to be the game’s final score as St Comgall’s ran out narrow winners at the conclusion.
St Teresa’s: E O Bearain, L Morgan, A Drumm, R Mac Aoidh, T Headley (0-01f), L Connolly, S McDonnell, R Measaigh (1-01), F McDonnell (1-02, 0-02f), D McStravick, C Collins Devlin, Z Morgan, S Tennyson, G McCann, C McGuigan. Subs: D Deveny for C McGuigan (HT), A McGarachan (0-01) for A Drumm (37), C McGoran for G McCann (41), R McNally for L Morgan (58).
St Comgalls: M Emery, C Scullion, L Gaul, A Armstrong, J Rafferty (0-01), L Phinn (0-02,0-01f), L McAleer, S McAuley, D Teague, T Hodkinson (0-05, 0-03f), Z Law, C Short, P McAuley (1-00), T Floyd (0-01), D McLornan (0-01). Subs: A Shortt for Z Law (41), J Joseph for C Scullion (53), M Sury for P McAuley (55).
Referee: Piarais McCaffrey (St Galls)
