COLÁISTE OIRIALL A CLASS ACT

COLM SHALVEY REPORTS

Coláiste Oiriall retained the Ulster Schools’ U-19 Ward Cup when they held off the challenge of St. Kevin’s College, Lisnaskea in an entertaining final in Clones last Thursday. A sizeable crowd of supporters for both teams made their way to St. Tiarnach’s Park to create a lively atmosphere that was matched by the action on the pitch. Coláiste Oiriall could call on ten of the panel who won this title last year and they helped to lead the way in an exciting second half where St. Kevin’s carried all the momentum early on, only to be reeled in by a powerful start to the third quarter by the Monaghan side, managed by Seán MacThaidhg and Dessie Ó Mocháin.

St. Kevin’s featured several players with county minor experience with Fermanagh, one of whom (Keelan Fitzpatrick) starred up front throughout the game, but despite having to line out minus Ethan MacGafraidh and Fionán Ó Gallchóir, a better-balanced Coláiste Oiriall team had enough to get over the line. Éanna Ó hAilín and Dáire Chapman swapped points from frees early on, before Jeaic Ó Cearbhalláin and Cillian Haicéad moved Coláiste Oiriall ahead. Keelan Fitzpatrick opened his account on 15 minutes to bring St. Kevin’s back within one, but a brace of frees by Éanna Ó hAilín and the opening goal – when Daithí Ó hAilín palmed a Jeaic Ó Cearbhalláin shot just beyond the Lisnaskea keeper – opened up a six-point gap. Any notion that St. Kevin’s were going to let the game run away from them were dismissed when Fitzpatrick hit 1-1 in quick succession, before Nathan…