Coláiste Feirste came up just short in Wednesday’s Casements Shield semi-final at Owenbeg, losing out to a Jude Bryson inspired St Columb’s Derry team whose ability to grab goals set them apart from their Belfast opponents.
There were four scoring stars in the game, two from St Columb’s who each scored on seven occasions and two from Coláiste Feirste who split the posts six times each. However Bryson’s goal scoring ability was to prove the difference in the two teams, the corner forward five goal haul set up a final meeting with St Patrick’s Dungiven
The Na Magha forward scored four of those goals in the opening half with his St Columb’s team-mate Cathal McNicholl scoring all five points to take the boys from the maiden city to an interval lead of 4-5 to 0-9 from Coláiste Feirste with Tomás Mac Adaim keeping the Belfast school in the battle with five white flags.
Oran Morris became the third St Columb’s player to register a score when he pointed early in the second half. But Nathan Mac Cionnaith was starting to make an impact at the other end with the first of his five second half points, all from open play.
Bryson and McNicholl responded with points while scores from defenders Oisín Ó hÉanna and Aaron Ó Coinn, along with Mac Cionnaith, brought the Falls Road team a little closer. However Bryson’s fifth goal put St Columb’s in a strong position going into the final quarter and they were able to maintain that gap between the teams through to the final whistle.
Nathan Mac Cionnaith was excellent during the second half, while Aaron Ó Coinn and Oisín Ó hÉanna put in a solid hour. However the goals came early and it meant that Coláiste Feirste were chasing the game from the start.
St Columb’s: J Bryson 5-2, C McNicholl 0-7, 0-3 frees, O Morris and T McFeely 0-1 each.
Coláiste Feirste: T Mac Adaim (3 frees) and N Mac Cionnaith 0-6 each, O Ó hÉanna (1 free) and A Ó Coinn 0-2 each, O Mag Uidhir 0-1.
St Columb’s: Callum Mackey Richardson, Finn Mackey, Kayne Ponsonby, John Paul McCafferty, Rory Hope, Oran Morris, Conor O’Donnell, Fergal Cutliffe, Joe Bryson, Tiernan McFeeley, Cathal McNicholl, Eoin O’Kane, Jude Bryson, Liam Meenan, Oran Donnelly
Coláiste Feirste: Ciarnán Ó Cearúill, Cillian Ó Néill, Barra Mac Craith, Caomhán Ó Mealláin, Oisín Ó hÉanna, Aaron Ó Coinn, Christopher Mac Roibeaird, Ruairí Ó Scolláin, Conall Mac Mathúna, Aidan Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, Nathan Mac Cionnaoith, Tomás Ó Corráin, Dúaltach Ó Cianáin, Caolán Mac Coille, Tomás Mac Adaim
Sub: Odhran Mag Uidhir for C Mac Coille (44)
to see more of Bert’s pics from this game click on the link below