Danske Bank Ulster Colleges Rannafast Cup (U16.5 A Football) – Round 1
Cathair Bhéal Feirste 1-11 St Ronan’s Lurgan 2-10
PIC BY BERT TROWLEN
Cathair Bhéal Feirste, the new combination team comprising St Malachys College, Rathmore Grammar, Edmund Rice College, Colaiste Feirste and Aquinas Diocesan Grammar, came up just short in their first ever game in the Rannafast Cup at Woodlands on Thursday when they lost out to St Ronan’s Lurgan. Trailing by eight points at half time after facing the elements in the first half Cathair Bhéal Feirste came storming back in the second and led by their team captain Aodhan O’Hanlon they has the gap down to two by the end of the third quarter. For a time it looked like they were set to claw back the deficit, but a goal by St Ronan’s star performer Brogan O’Kane five minutes from time closed the door on the comeback.
With the wind and rain at their backs the Lurgan boys wre dominant in the opening half as the new boys struggled to find their rhythm and after lead by just a point after ten minutes the visitors hit a series of top class scores with single points from Ryan Moore (2) and Eoin Lavery, a 2pointer from John O’Hagan and a goal from corner forward Jayden Quinn, that goal a real killer blow for Cathair Bhéal Feirste as they had the ball in the back of the net a minute earlier, only to be ruled out for a ‘square’ infringement.
Trailing by 0-03 to 1-08 at the break the home side set about getting back into the game and Aodhan O’Hanlon lifted spirits with a well taken 2pointer less than a minute after the restart. Ryan Moore came back with two pointed frees for St Ronan’s but a goal on 37 minutes by Cathair Bhéal Feirste’s half back Senan McMahon really got them going. Aodhan McMahon added a point and then a 2pointer to close within four going into the final quarter, but St Ronan’s shut up shop and the next nine minutes were scoreless.
The Lurgan college sealed the win when Brogan O’Kane grabbed his team’s second goal five minutes from time and though Aidan Holmes came back with a point and O’Hanlon grabbed a two pointer they visitors held on for the win.
Cathair Bheal Feirste Panel
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