Anthony Thompson faces three St Pats Drumcondra forwards as he attacks opens up another Letterkenny IT attack. Letterkenny IT won by a score of 12 -9. (photo Paddy Gallagher).
Letterkenny IT had to dig deep to overcome a dogged St Pats College side in the semi-final of the National League Colleges competition.
The Monaghan GAA Development ground was the venue for a spicy affair between two of the emerging teams in colleges football this year.
Letterkenny IT , captained by Aodh Rua ‘s Peter Boyle and including in its ranks Daragh Gallagher and Anthony Thompson from Glenties , took to the field in Monaghan, chosen as a neutral venue by the GAA, to test their wits and strength against St Pat’s College, Drumcondra.
The points came early, and in favour of Letterkenny from Adrian O’Gara who made several raids from his half back position in the first 30 minutes of play.
The second point came from Shane Coyle, the Letterkenny full forward playing up front with Peter Boyle, who also soon after wards, found his range with an excellent point.
It was far from one-way traffic as St Pats dutifully returned scores whenever the opportunity arose, Stewart, Flanagan and Kelly all converting. Good recovery tackling and composure on the ball from Anthony Thompson, the Donegal star, kept Letterkenny on their toes, Conor Parke, at full back turned a near perfect performance to bring the Letterkenny lads in at 8-4 in the lead on the half time whistle.
The second half start from Letterkenny replicated that of the first half, a point from Adrian O’Gara. The pressure from St Pats increased as the time progressed; the Dublin side certainly was energized at the half time interval and chose the last quarter of the game to make their final push for victory. Points from Daragh Gallagher and William Gillespie and Dylan McGowan made sure of the Letterkenny’s place in the final.
The combined forces of Thompson and Parke and McFadden in defence were critical factors in the game which could have went against the Donegal men but for a tremendous save from Blake Forkan, the Letterkenny IT goalkeeper, from Neary of St Pat’s college.
Final score 12-9 .
Team: Blake Forkan, Cian McFadden, Conor Parke, Ryan Mangan, Dylan McGowan, Anthony Thompson, Adrian OGara, Stephem Henry, Daragh Gallagher, Thomas Kerr, Brian Egan, William Gillespie, Shane Coyle, Peter Boyle, Brian Timlin, Scorers: Boyle (2), Egan,(1), Gillespie (2), McGowan (1), OGara (2), Timlin (2), Thompson (1), Gallagher (2).
The Final:
The League Final will be played out between Letterkenny IT and University of Limerick at the Connaught GAA grounds near Claremorris, Co Mayo, next Tuesday 19 November with a 2pm throw in.
Adrian O’Gara Letterkenny IT and James Stewart, St Pats College, Dublinpictured in the Semi Final of the Division 2 Colleges League on Tuesday, Letterkenny It progresses to the final by a score of 12 – 9, with 2 points scored by Adrian OGara. (photo Paddy Gallagher).
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