St. Colmcille’s made history on Friday evening in Páirc Briain Diolounaigh, White’s Cross, reaching their first-ever Premier 1 Football Championship final after an extraordinary semi-final victory over Carrigaline.
On a night that will live long in the memory, the Colmcille’s U14 footballers showed tremendous character and composure to eventually prevail 3-09 to 1-10 after extra time, following a pulsating contest that finished level at 2-06 to 1-09 after normal time.
Carrigaline started the brighter and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and were rewarded with points from Mark Kelly and Luke O’Gorman putting them into an early lead. Cian Ramsell settled Colmcille’s nerves with a point from a 45.
A two-point free from Liam Gordon helped Carrigaline maintain their advantage, but Alex Lynam came out from goals to reduce the deficit from a free before Charlie Cox struck a crucial goal from play. Carrigaline responded with a goal from Ethan Wren, but there was still time for Ayo Osunboyde to find the net for Colmcille’s.
Another two-point free, this time from Conor Collins-Daly, left Carrigaline narrowly ahead at the interval, leading 1-06 to 2-02.
The second half remained fiercely competitive. Kelly added another point for Carrigaline before Leo O’Leary also found the target. Colmcille’s refused to panic, however, with Ramsell converting a free, Cox adding a point from play and Lynam also registering from a free. Colmcille’s were very much in the ascendancy now.
As the clock ran down, Ramsell converted another free to leave the sides level at 2-06 to 1-09, sending the game into extra time.
What followed was remarkable. Just 36 seconds into extra time, Ramsell attempted what looked like a long-range point. The effort dropped unexpectedly into the Carrigaline net, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance and giving Colmcille’s a dramatic lead.
Oscar O’Connell then added a point, before Osunboyde scored twice more to leave Colmcille’s six points clear at half-time in extra time.
Carrigaline refused to surrender and Ethan Wren converted a free early in the second period, but the Colmcille’s defence held firm for the remainder of the game.
When the final whistle sounded, the scoreboard read St. Colmcille’s 3-09, Carrigaline 1-10. It was a magnificent achievement from the Colmcille’s players and a landmark moment for the club. Their first-ever Premier 1 Football Championship semi-final has ended with a place in the final — secured after 70-plus minutes of extraordinary football.
St Colmcille’s
1 – Alex Lynam (0-02 frees)
2 – Bradley Roche
3 – Ruairi Harte
4 – George O’Connell
5 – Joseph Crowley
6 – Harry Varley
7 – Danny Twomey
8 – Cian Ramsell (1-03 – 3 frees)
9 – Ayo Osunboyde (1-02)
10 – Ross O’Donovan
11 – Patrick Ahern
12 – Ronan Cunningham
13 – Charlie Cox (1-01)
14 – Ben Cashman
15 – Corey Forde
SUBS USED: Oscar O’Connell (0-01), Gearoid Hayes
Carrigaline
1 – Evan Kenneally
2 – Niall Greene
3 – Cillian Hurley
4 – Harry O’Donoghue
5 – Fionn McGrath
6 – Tom Farrell
7 – Danny Prout
8 – Conor Collins-Daly (0-01)
9 – Liam Gordon (0-01)
10 – Luke O’Gorman (0-01)
11 – Ethan Wren (1-01 – 1 free)
12 – Jack Collins
13 – Leo O’Leary
14 – Jake Murphy
15 – Mark Kelly (0-03)