Thrilling Danske Bank Arthurs’ Cup final
St Columba’s College, Stranorlar 2-14 Holy Cross, Strabane 3-8
St Columba’s and Holy Cross played out a thrilling Danske Bank Arthurs’ Cup final in Celtic Park on the 7th of December 2016, with St Columba’s only managing to pull away with three points in the last 5 minutes to claim the school’s first ever Arthurs Cup.
St Columba’s who were playing against the stiff wind started the better and scored four unanswered points in the opening ten minutes with Oisin Gallen hitting three, two from play and one from a free kick with John Moore also landing a fine point after a late run from centre half back.
Holy Cross settled into the game in the 16th minute after a long range free from Niall McGinley and minutes later they were level after good pressure forced a sideline ball which was taken quickly and the ball found Adam Edwards and he drilled it low to net.
Holy Cross added two more points to go ahead for the first time but Gallen levelled matters before three unanswered point from Holy Cross left the score 1-6 to 0-6 at half time.
Holy Cross opened the second half well with a point but St Columba’s landed the next three two from Gallen and one from hard working half forward Jack Gillespie.
Then came a truly astonishing four minute period that saw four goals two for each side.
From a short kick out Gallen found the net from twenty yards to put St Columba’s ahead. On the next kick out this time Conor Bonner nipped in and took it around the goal keeper and poked the ball to the net for a five point lead with twelve minutes to go.
At that stage it looked like the game was over but Holy Cross had other thoughts. They moved the ball quickly through the middle of the park before midfielder Tom Mullen found the top corner after rounding a number of St Columba’s defenders. From the kick out Sean Maxwell found the net to restore Holy Crosses one point lead.
The game was back on and anyone’s for the taking. Gallen fired St Columbas back into the lead only for Niall McGinley to level the game with five minutes left on the clock.
Oisin Gallen scored his final two points of the game to leave him with a tally of 1-11 and full forward Alex Mc Geehan made sure with the final point of the game to leave the score 2-14 to 3-8.
St Columba’s College, Stranorlar: Cian Gallen, PJ McDaid, Ciaran Foy, Darragh McMenamin, Kieran Neeson, John Moore (0-1), Aaron Gillooley, James Russell, Rory Dalton, Jack Gillespie (0-1), Oisin Gallen (1-11, 0-5f), Conor Doherty, Ciaran Dolan, Alex McGeehan (0-1), Conor Bonner (1-0). Subs: Matthew Doherty for C Neeson (26 black card), Niall Gallen for PJ McDaid (40, black card), Adam Marley for C Doherty (46)
Holy Cross College, Strabane: Daniel Boyle, Pearse Devine (0-1), Paul Farrell, Ruairi White, Ethan Corry (0-1), Jake Owens, Shay McCurdy, Tom Mullan (1-0), Odhrán Sweeney, Gavin O’Kane, Niall McGinley (0-3, 2f), Adam Edwards (1-1), Oisin Dooher (0-1), Niall McAleer (0-1), Sean Maxwell (1-0). Subs: Tiarnan Langan for G O’Kane (51), Deasun Stewart for A Edwards (55), Sean Tinney for S McCurdy (58).
Referee: Alan Nash (Derry).
