Colaiste Naomh Cormac given stern test but qualify for All-Ireland Final

COLAISTE NAOMH CORMAC 1-19

ST LOUIS BALLYMENA 1-12

COLAISTE Noamh Cormac were given a very stern test before pulling away in the closing minutes to qualify for the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior Hurling B Final with a seven point victory over St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena at the Darver Centre of Excellence on Sunday.

The seven point winning margin may seem to signal a reasonably comfortable victory for the Kilcormac school but that was far from the case. Despite being reduced for 14 men early in the second half and trailing by eight points, St Louis fought their way back into the game and cut the gap to two points with just four minutes left but Colaiste Naomh Cormac finished strongly with five points in quick succession to seal their place in the final.

It was a strange game in many ways. On a number of occasions Colaiste Naomh Cormac looked like they were ready to pull away from their opponents but before they could get comfortable St Louis battled their way back into the game and Colaiste Naomh Cormac had to be on their toes all the way to the final whistle.

Colaiste Naomh Cormac started slowly in each half but they put in strong finishes to each half and that essentially was the difference. St Louis struggled to get going in the first half and wasted a lot of opportunities but they stormed into the game in the second half after going down to 14 men and they really put it up to the Offaly men.

The sides shared a brace of points early on before Colaiste Naomh Cormac took the lead in the 10th minute and never subsequently lost that advantage. Three quick points in the final 10 minutes of the half gave them some breathing space but in the final action of the half Adam Screeney fired to the net to give Colaiste Naomh Cormac a 1-8 to 0-3 interval lead.

That goal looked like it would knock the stuffing out of St Louis and their cause was further hampered in the second minute of the second half when midfielder Sean Og Blaney picked up his second yellow card and was sent off. It looked good for Colaiste Naomh Cormac but they seemed to switch off for a while and were rocked when St Louis struck for a goal 10 minutes into the half and the gap was down to four. Colaiste Naomh Cormac pushed the lead out to seven again heading into the final quarter but St Louis just wouldn't give up and outscored Colaiste Naomh Cormac 0-6 to 0-1 in a nine minute spell to cut the gap to two and leave them dreaming of a great comeback but Colaiste Naomh Cormac lifted their game again in the final minutes to pull away and secure a place in the final against Bandon.

Colaiste Naomh Cormac will realise that they will have to perform for the full 60 minutes if they ae to bring the Paddy Buggy Cup back to Kilcormac. They played well in the first half and contained St Louis well, restricting them to just three points, two of those frees. They seemed to be in control but they didn't push on and St Louis picked up their game in the second half with wing back Kevin O'Boyle making some great catches, midfielder Aodhan McGarry doing likewise and doing a lot of good hurling around the middle of the field, while full forward Ronan McCollum was a real livewire in attack.

Having won the All-Ireland C title last year, it is a terrific achievement for Colaiste Naomh Cormac to make the B final just a year later. Cillian Spain did well in goals and his distribution was generally good. James Mahon was solid at full back and Mark Mulrooney, Richard Bracken and Brecon Kavanagh also impressed in defence. Colin Spain played very well at midfield while in attack Leigh Kavanagh was very lively and Daniel Hand, Alex Kavanagh and Adam Screeney all contributed important scores.

St Louis, who were backboned by players from the hurling strongholds of Loughgiel and Dunloy, gave their all and can be proud of their effort. Along with the aforementioned Kevin O'Boyle, Pearce Patterson and Darragh Patterson did well in the centre of the defence. Aodhan McGarry was very effective in the middle of the field and in attack Ronan McCollum, Jack McCloskey and Paudie Martin did well.

Daniel Hand put Colaiste Naomh Cormac in front with a good point in the second minute but St Louis hit back and two points from Jack McCloskey, one a free, put St Louis ahead after eight minutes. Quick points from Leigh Kavanagh and Alex Kavanagh restored the Colaiste Naomh Cormac lead and after seven minutes without a score Adam Screeney pointed a free.

St Louis went close to a goal when Paudie Martin got a flick on a high ball but it was taken off the line by James Mahon. Colin Spain, Leigh Kavanagh and Daniel Hand added quick points to give Colaiste Naomh Cormac some leeway. Ronan McCollum pulled a free back but Alex Kavanagh fired over a great point for Colaiste Naomh Cormac and then in the last action of the first half Brecon Kavanagh picked out Alex Kavanagh with a clearance. He passed to Daniel Hand who headed straight for goal. He was well bottled up by the defence but managed to get a pass out to Adam Screeney on the left and he fired to the net from an angle to give his side a 1-8 to 0-3 half time lead.

Ronan McCollum pointed an early free for St Louis after the break but they then suffered a blow when Sean Og Blaney picked up a second yellow card and they were reduced to 14 men. Adam Screeney pointed a free but St Louis replied immediately through Paudie Martin. However they missed a lot of chances and they registered their 12th wide shortly after. But that was their last wide of the game and they began to find the range better after that.

They got a real boost 10 minutes into the half when Kevin O'Boyle's high ball was won by Dara Martin. Brecon Kavanagh made a great block down but the ball ran for Ronan McCollum and he finished to the net. Adam Screeney pointed a free but Jack McCloskey kept St Louis in touch. Daniel Hand, Alex Kavanagh and Adam Screeney (free) pushed the lead out to seven points as the game entered the final quarter and it looked good for Colaiste Naomh Cormac.

But St Louis didn't give up and Aodhan McGarry pointed two frees. Adam Screeney was on target from another free but Aodhan McGarry pointed two '65s', Ronan McCollum hit one from play and Jack McCloskey pointed a free and the lead was down to two points with four minutes left. Adam Screeney's free settled Colaiste Naomh Cormac and Colin Spain, Adam Screeney (free), Alex Kavanagh and Dylan Hollywood all added late points to seal their win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

COLAISTE NAOMH CORMAC: Cillian Spain (Drumcullen); Luke Bracken (Kilcormac/Killoughey), James Mahon (K/K), Mark Mulrooney (K/K); Richard Bracken (K/K), Brecon Kavanagh (K/K), Oisin Guinan (K/K); Colin Spain (K/K), Harry Sweeney (K/K); Leigh Kavanagh (K/K), Daniel Hand (K/K), Ciaran Scully (K/K); James Hennessy (Drumcullen), Alex Kavanagh (K/K), Adam Screeney (K/K). Sub. Dylan Hollywood (Drumcullen) (for Ciaran Scully, 39 mins).

ST LOUIS BALLYMENA: Caolan McFerran; Senan O'Boyle, Pearce Patterson, Michael Traynor; Kevin O'Boyle, Darragh Patterson, Francis McMullan; Sean Og Blaney, Aodhan McGarry; Tom McFerran, Jack McCloskey, Paudie Martin; Barry McCloskey, Ronan McCollum, Dara Martin. Subs. Joe McCormick (for Tom McFerran, 41 mins), Fintan Bradley (for Dara Martin, 47 mins).

REFEREE: James Clarke (Cavan).

MAN OF THE MATCH

Both sides had some fine individual performers but over the hour I've plumped for Leigh Kavanagh. He was particularly prominent in the first half and again popped up at crucial moments in the second half to deliver good ball to the inside forward line in what was a solid all round display.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

A fine individual point from Colin Spain in the first half. He won the ball near the middle of the field and raced forward, pursued by three opponents. He couldn't catch the ball again and as he closed in on goals, despite the attentions of those around him he managed to pop over a fine point.

REFEREE WATCH

James Clarke had a bit of a mixed day. He twice failed to apply the advantage to Colaiste Naomh Cormac when Adam Screeney was through fo potential goals, while at the opposite end he did allow St Louis to advance before calling them back to award the free. There were a couple of other dubious frees but the cards awarded were all justified and otherwise his calls were mainly correct.

TALKING POINT

Colaiste Naomh Cormac are though to the Senior Hurling B final just a year after winning the All-Ireland C title. They now just stand 60 minutes away from winning the Paddy Buggy Cup but will face a stiff test in that final. For a small school with a small pick of players, it is a great achievement for Colaiste Naomh Cormac but they are more than deserving of their place in that final and are well capable of going on to glory.

WHAT’S NEXT

Colaiste Naomh Cormac meet Bandon in the All-Ireland Final, which is scheduled for St Patrick's Day. The Cork school beat Holy Rosary College Mount Bellew by 1-16 to 2-8 in their semi-final.

VENUE WATCH

The Darver Centre of Excellence is a set up similar to the Faithful Fields. There was plenty of activity going on with a Gaelic Football match and Ladies Football match going on on other fields. There was plenty of car parking space but the pitch itself was quite bumpy and players did have problems rising the ball on a lot of occasions.

STATISTICS

Wides; Colaiste Naomh Cormac 8 (5 in first half) St Louis 12 (8 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Colaiste Naomh Cormac 0 St Louis 3 (Paudie Martin, Sean Og Blaney x 2)

Red Cards: Colaiste Naomh Cormac 0 St Louis 1 (Sean Og Blaney)

THE SCORERS

Colaiste Naomh Cormac; Adam Screeney (1-7, 0-7 frees), Alex Kavanagh (0-4), Daniel Hand (0-3), Leigh Kavanagh and Colin Spain (0-2 each), Dylan Hollywood (0-1).

St Louis; Ronan McCollum (1-3, 0-2 frees), Jack McCloskey (0-4, 0-2 frees), Aodhan McGarry (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-2 '65s'), Paudie Martin (0-1).