Dansk Bank Rannafast Cup Quarter Final
Colaisti Inis Eoghain 1-10
St Eunan’s 0-11
A late Christopher McLaughlin goal just minutes from the end of normal time put Colaisti Inis Eoghain through to the Rannafast Cup semi-finals for the first time after an exciting showcase of underage Donegal football.
The North Donegal derby was always going to bring a little spice to the Ulster Colleges’ quarter-final, and with the Sam Maguire Cup looking on from the sidelines, both teams lived up to the pre match expectations as they fielded a number of players who were part of the victorious Buncrana Cup winning team in last August.
St Eunans were first to draw blood, when Michael Miller knocked over a free from just inside the ’45 line. Sprightly corner-forward Christopher Flanagan put the Letterkenny based school two up before a double from Buncrana’s John Campbell, including a masterful pointed free against the wind, tied the score up for Inis Eoghain. St Eunans however hit a purple patch in the middle of the first half, scoring 0-04 without reply, via Miller, Flanagan, Niall O’Donnell and Conall O’Boyle.
Good play out the right from Georgie Kelly and Caolan Mailey gave Christopher McLaughlin space to point and bring the score to 0-06 to 0-03. Michael Miller, the most influential player on the pitch in the first half, and Oran Hillen each pointed to put five points between the sides. Inis Eoghain were creating chances, but they failed to punish St Eunans with some wayward shooting. Campbell and Miller both traded points for the sides to leave the score at half time:
Colaisti Inis Eoghain 0-04 St Eunans 0-09.
John Campbell, a thorn in St Eunans side all afternoon, got Inis Eoghain rolling in the second half with a neat little point. St Eunans Michael Patton put five points between the sides once more with a long effort from out the field. The second half saw Inis Eoghain have the advantage of the wind and they finally found their own purple patch. Pushed on by Georgie Kelly, Tony McClenaghan and Darren Gallagher, Inis Eoghain began to dominate the game.
Two pointed frees from Sean McHugh and John Campbell set Inis Eoghain on a five point run without reply to tie the score once again. Caolan Mailey, John Campbell and Sean McHugh split the posts for the ‘hosts’ as the game entered the final stages.
St Eunans attacking threat in the second half though was stemmed by an injury to the influential Michael Miller and they severely missed his presence. Substitute David Tyrell pointed a free for St Eunans to give them a one-point lead. However, when a Mark Coyle’s ’45 dropped short into the goalmouth, Christopher McLaughlin (F) was first to the breaking ball, knocking an unstoppable shot into the top corner and gave Colaisti Inis Eoghain a two point lead and they managed to hold out for an important victory.
Best for Inis Eoghain were, Darren Gallagher, Georgie Kelly, Tony McCleneghan, Christopher McLaughlin Sean McHugh and Caolan Mailey. Best for St Eunans were Michael Patton, Conall O Boyle, Niall O Donnell and Michael Miller.
Colaisti Inis Eoghain: Jamie Barr; Peter Doherty, Aaron McCarron, Stephen O’Donnell; Daragh Browne, Darren Gallagher, Ultan Doherty; Georgie Kelly, Tony McClenaghan; Christopher McLaughlin (F) (1-1), Caolan Mailey (0-1), Mark Coyle; Sean McHugh (0-2, 2f), John Campbell (0-6, 2f), Josh Lafferty. Subs: Ryan McLaughlin.
St Eunan’s: Sean Daffin; Cormac Callaghan, Daragh McWalters, Sean McDonagh; Oisin Shields, Michael Patton (0-1), Michale friel; Patrick Diver, Conall O’Boyle (0-1); Oran Hillen (0-1), Machael Miller (0-4, 3f), Conor Morrison; Niall O’Donnell (0-1), Jordan O’Dowd, Christopher Flanagan (0-2). Subs: David Tyrell (0-1, 1f), Mark Stewart.
Referee Jim McCallion (Tyrone)
ALL IRELAND WINNER RYAN BRADLEY BROUGHT SAM ALONG TO MEET THE CAPTAINS
