Coláiste Feirste capture Pat King Cup honours

Danske Bank Pat King Cup final 

Coláiste Feirste 0-12 St Joseph’s, Crossmaglen 1-7

COLÁISTE Feirste’s speed out of the starting blocks was instrumental in them claiming the Danske Bank Pat King Cup at sunny, but cold Mayobridge yesterday morning against St Joseph’s, Crossmaglen.

The Falls’ Road school hit the first five points through Tomás Mac Adaim and Shae Mac Aoidh and it was all of 18 minutes before St Joseph’s got their first score, a penalty goal from Josh King.

It wasn’t that the south Armagh side was struggling as a team, more that Coláiste Feirste net-minder Fionn Ó Brannuibh was in great form, stopping shots and with his kick-outs, while corner-back Luke O’Dea and midfielder Ruairí Ó Scolláin were also prominent.

King and Oran Leneghan added points for Crossmaglen before the break but they still trailed by 0-8 to 1-2 at the turnover, with Nathan Mac Cionnaith and Séadhna Mac Conluain adding to the Belfast side’s total.

Crossmaglen came more into the game in the second half, but they simply couldn’t reel in the interval lead, with Coláiste Feirste able to respond to every score from the Cross players.

There was just a point from each side during the third quarter, but over the next 10 minutes the Belfast side stretched their lead to four points.

Cross scored three times over the final five minutes, but Coláiste Feirste held on for an historic victory, all the more tasty as they weren’t able to call on the services of their talented centre half-back Daniel Mervyn, a point recognised when they raised the six jersey for the team photograph at the close of play.

By Séamas McAleenan published in The Irish News December 03, 2024