Ulster Club JFC quarter-final
Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin 0-12 Naomh Comhghall 0-8
A strong second half comeback from St. Comgall’s Antrim fell just short as they lost by four points to a good Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin in the quarter-final of the Ulster Junior Football championship in Letterkenny on Saturday.
The Innishown side defeated neighbours Carndonagh by ten points in the Donegal final and at one stage in the opening half they looked like running away with this one when they led 0-8 to 0-2 in the period leading up to half time.
Naomh Comhghall had missed a great goal opportunity to draw level after 20 minutes and in the end it would be that missed opportunity that would prove the difference in the final analysis.
Jonathan Toye gave Naomh Padraig the lead when he pointed a 40 meter free within 40 seconds but Naomh Comhghall replied with an excellent score from Ryan Clarke to draw level with two minutes gone.
Toye would prove a major influence for the Innishowen side over the hour and their team captain kicked their first from play to restore their lead but again the Antrim Town side found a response as Dylan Murdock got through for an equaliser with 12 minutes on the clock.
Slowly though Naomh Padraig began to get on top with Toye directing matters from centre-half and Cormac McColgan and Kevin Doherty prominent.
The Donegal champions hit three points on the bounce through Jonathan Toye 0-2 and Doherty as they began to exert control as they moved three clear by the 18th minute.
Naomh Comhghall responded and should have been back on level terms when Dylan Murdock put James McCabe in the clear with an astute hand pass but his well struck shot was superbly parried by Oran McCauley in the Naomh Padraig goals.
It would prove costly as the Donegal men came back again with the fifth of the evening from captain Toye and when Cormac McColgan added two more there was six between the sides.
Significantly the Dunsilly side kicked the final point of the half through Ryan Clarke and when Tom Patchett added another on the restart it was looking better for the Antrim champions.
Kevin Doherty for Naomh Padraig and Dylan Murdock for Naomh Comhghall exchanged further points before Jonathan Toye eased the Innishowen side five in front again from a free in the 7th minute as Eoin Lynott replaced Dannan O’Hara in the Naomh Comhghall side.
Slowly Barry Burns’ side began to get on top as they played some excellent football and Patchett struck a couple of superb frees to close the gap to three with 12 minutes remaining but there was a sense that they might need a goal if they were to overturn the Naomh Padraig lead.
Once again it was that man Toye who punished a misplaced kick-out to return between the posts and ease the increasing pressure that the Antrim town side were beginning to exert.
The Naomh Padraig defence was proving a difficult unit to break down however as they filed back in numbers to foil the increasing pressure and a Tom Patchett point from a mark was all that the Antrim champions could add.
Patchett’s point had it back to three again with two minutes remaining but despite a concerted effort it would be as close as they got with substitute Drew McKinney adding the insurance point for the Donegal men with virtually the last kick of the game.
A great fight-back from the Antrim champions who held a 100% record in league and championship going into this game but despite a massive second half effort it is the Donegal champions who go forward to contest the Ulster semi-final
Naomh Comhghall: Anthony Watson, Shane Og Gribbon, Cathal Donnelly, Caolan McKeown, Michael McCabe, James McCabe, Dannan O’Hara, Louis Higgins, Josh Henry, Joseph Webb, Patrick O’Connor, Dylan Murdock, Ryan Clarke, Miles Devine, Tom Patchett.
Subs: Eoin Lynott, Liam Phinn,
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