St. Colmcille’s U16s produced a thrilling comeback to beat St. Colman’s in Round 4 of the Division 1 East Championship at White’s Cross, keeping their title hopes alive.
Blustery conditions favoured the home side who opened briskly with five unanswered points before a goal against the run of play left the teams level at the short whistle: St. Colmcille’s 0-6, St. Colman’s 1-2. With the wind now behind them, the visitors looked dangerous and extended their lead in the third quarter with a long two-pointer from a free.
St. Colmcille’s response was immediate. Tom O’Sullivan sliced through the defence to restore parity and the game settled into a tit-for-tat exchange. The decisive spell arrived twelve minutes from time when Alex Sheehan replicated O’Sullivan’s direct run to finish a composed solo goal. Captain Fachtna Kelleher added a point, and Sam Dunne, showing great bravery and coolness, drove a second goal into the right corner.
Three minutes later Evan O’Leary put the result beyond doubt with a third goal, completing a blistering seven-minute flurry that swung the contest firmly in St. Colmcille’s favour. St. Colman’s fought on and grabbed a late goal but could not break down a tigerish St. Colmcille’s backline marshalled by Alan Murphy, Oisín Arrigan and the industrious Charlie Horgan.
When PJ Dennehy sounded the final whistle the home side celebrated a hard-earned, satisfying win—Championship 2025 very much alive for St. Colmcille’s. The victory will give belief and momentum as they prepare for a tough quarter-final tie next weekend.