Colmcille’s looked like they were going to be in for a tough morning when, after two minutes, their opponents had the ball in the net. However, this was very much a blip as James McCarthy’s goal, and a defence in front of him where Jack Travers was an immense presence all through, was rarely threatened after that.
The assured Joseph Foley kicked his side’s first point in the fifth minute before the other corner forward Eoin Cashman added another one two minutes later. Aaron O’Sullivan, up from wing back kicked two of the next three points, sandwiching another Joseph Foley effort. Colmcille’s were now into their groove as the Blackpool side struggled to get the ball out of their half. Half-forwards Cathal Walsh and Oisin O’Brien got in on the scoring with the former helping himself to 1-02 between the 17th and 20th minutes as the score now read 1-08 to 1-00. An effort for a point from Eoin Cashman went all the way to the net a minute later as the presence of Darragh Aherne at full-forward did his utmost to put pressure on the Nick’s keeper. Isaac Collins, from center back, finished the scoring before the short whistle as, despite the opening two minutes, Colmcille’s put in as dominant a half of football as you are likely to see.
To their credit, with the game almost certainly gone from them, Nick’s came out fighting after the break.
They opened the scoring almost immediately after the restart and came looking for more. However, with cousins Ronan and Oran Crowley in top form at the back, they struggled to convert possession into scores. They were rocked back in the 9th and 13th minutes when two further goals from Sean McSweeney and Darragh Aherne put a halt to any design the Nick’s lads had on a comeback. These goals were the final scores for the winners though Sean Buckley came agonizingly close to getting another one near the end. Nick’s did get the last 1-02 though it was too little, too late and a fine Colmcille’s side deservedly earned their shield success.
TEAM
1 – James McCarthy
2 – Ronan Crowley
3 – Jack Travers
4 – Sean McSweeney (1-00)
5 – Aaron O Sullivan (0-02)
6 – Isaac Collins (0-01)
7 – Oran Crowley
8 – Zach Forde
9 – Sean Docherty
10 – Cathal Walsh (1-02, 1 free)
11 – Oisin O’Brien (0-01)
12 – Harry Galvin
13 – Joseph Foley (0-02)
14 – Darragh Aherne (1-00)
15 – Eoin Cashman (1-01)
SUBS USED: Sean Buckley, RJ Whitley, Joe Duhig, Michael Looney
