Main pic: Emotional Muff players proudly hold the late Evan Craig’s No. 13 jersey during the post-match celebrations.
Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin kept their promise to the late Evan Craig by today winning their first ever Junior A Championship.
Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin 2-12
Carndonagh 0-8
By Charlie Collins at O’Donnell Park.
The much loved Muff man passed away last month aged just 24 following a long and brave battle with cancer. In the build up to the final, the Naomh Padraig team said the best way they could honour their former corner forward was by winning a medal for him. And, they did that in some style today at O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.
The remains of Evan Craig (inset) being brought onto the pitch at his beloved Naomh Padraig GAA grounds on his final journey last month. (North West Newspix)
These Inishowen neighbors and rivals had been the dominant forces in this year’s Junior A Championship.
Carndonagh had proved too strong for all opponents in their group and also for Convoy in their semi-final , scoring heavily and conceding very little. Naomh Padraig Muff suffered a defeat to Naomh Ultan in their group game but bounced back to get revenge in the semi~final with a twelve point victory to set up this All Inishowen final meeting.
Naomh Padraig produced a powerhouse first-half display which had an early Kevin Lynch goal and a brilliant second three pointer from county star, Caolan McColgan before the break. This had the Muff men twelve points ahead at half-time and in control of this final.
Muff midfielder Cormac McColgan, in their first real chance to attack, launched a high ball into the goal area which Kevin Lynch grabbed and drilled to the net. They followed that up with points from play by Jonathan Toye and Caolan McColgan and two frees from Kevin Lynch. This was followed by two more from play by Oisín McIntyre and a cracker from Caolan McColgan to lead by 1-06 to no score after sixteen minutes.
Another county star, Conor O’Donnell, finally opened Carndonagh’s account in the 19th minute from play. But Cormac McColgan replied immediately for Muff to make it 1-07 to 0-01. Cian Doherty for Carn and Kevin Doherty for Muff exchanged points and then Ryan Kelly got Carn’s third.
Things got worse for Carn in the next few minutes when Jonathan Toye held possession well before giving Caolan McColgan the perfect pass and the Donegal star applied the perfect finish as he blasted the ball into the far corner of the net. Cormac McColgan added a super point from play and at half-time Muff led by twelve points, 2-09 to 0-03 and one had to think ‘game over’.
Danny McDaid came forward to give Carndonagh a good start to the second-half but they couldn’t build on it. Rory Hirrell replied for Muff in the 43rd minute in what looked like being a fairly low-key second-half. Sub Padraig Doherty got Carn’s fifth point and as the game somewhat fizzled out Carndonagh didn’t seem too concerned about adding to their score, happy that they had done enough to take the Junior A Championship for 2024. Sub Anthony Doherty added a couple of points for Carn, Dermott Keaveney and Rory Hirrell did likewise for Muff. Carn’s James Monagle got their eighth point but Naomh Padraig Muff had the job done in the first-half as they won by 2-12 to 0-08 to take the title for 2024. It was an emotional victory for the Muff players as they proudly held Evan’s No. 13 jersey during the post-match celebrations.
Carndonagh; Kyle Harkin , Daniel McDaid (0-01), Danny Monagle, Eoghan Kelly , John O’Callaghan, Dara Browne, Cian Burke , Will Quinn, Ryan Kelly (0-01), Anthony Doherty (0-02 ), Conor O’Donnell (0-01), Keith Norris , Cian Doherty (0-01), Donal Doherty, Fergal Doherty. Subs used ; Brendan McLaughlin , James Monagle (0-01) , Padraig Doherty (0-01), , Richie Cunningham, Cathal Doherty .
Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin: Oran McCauley , Cormac Kelly Caolan Harkin , Darragh McIntyre , Michael McCarron , Jonathan Toye (0-01), Jason McCallion , Eunan Mullan , Cormac McColgan (0-02) , Oisin McIntyre (0-01), Kevin Doherty (0-01), Rory Hirrell (0-02), Joe McCauley , Kevin Lynch (1-02), Caolan McColgan (1-02). Subs used ; Drew McKinney, Ronan Hoy , Dermott Keaveny (0-01), Andrew McCarron.
Referee : Daniel Carlin ( Naomh Padraig, Lifford).
