Defeat for St. Columb's College in U18 Cup Final at Windsor Park

Integrated College, Dungannon 2

St. Columb’s College 1

St. Columb’s College suffered cup final disappointment as they were beaten by a hungrier Integrated College, Dungannon at the National Stadium in Belfast.

In their fourth final in seven years, St. Columb’s went in as favourites, having won this competition comfortably 12 months ago, but they came up against a determined and very well-organised opponent and fell to a rare defeat as a result with Jack McFeely’s late, late goal coming just too late in the day.

Dungannon, who featured players from Ballymena, Loughgall and Dungannon, were more dangerous throughout with goals in either half earning them a victory they deserved.

The first goal in the final came after just 23 minutes in and it was a huge blow for St. Columb’s as Dungannon what arguably a deserved lead. The goal was of the highest quality as the run of Liam Corr in behind the St. Columb’s defence was picked out by Jadon Morgan. Corr still had a lot to do, but before any blue shirt could close him down he saw McConnellogue off his line and he sent a curling effort beyond the St. Columb’s goalkeeper and into the net to make it 1-0.

It was only the fourth goal that St. Columb’s had conceded in this year’s competition, but they almost responded in spectacular fashion when Joshua Callaghan won the ball on the edge of the Dungannon area and set up Shae Feeney, who curled a brilliant effort towards goal. Darren Beattie scrambled the whole way across his goal, but fortunately for the goalkeeper, the shot was just off target, missing the post by inches.

Dungannon were on top in the second half and the second goal was inevitable. When it came, it was spectacular as star player Kenny Ximenez scored a goal to grace any game at the National Stadium. Receiving the ball on the right wing, the winger raced forward all the way into the area, and although the angle was against him, he still managed to find the net much to the delight of the Dungannon players and supporters.

In a moment which summed up the day for St. Columb’s, Dungannon defender Tommy Connolly took the ball off the toe of McFeely just as he was about to put the ball in the net with 10 minutes remaining.

St. Columb’s kept going despite the circumstances, and they did pull one back in the third minute of added time when Jack McFeely danced through the Dungannon defence to fire the ball into the bottom corner. But the goal came just too late, with the final whistle following just seconds later to confirm a first ever school’s title for Dungannon.

Teams

INTEGRATED COLLEGE: 1 Darren Beattie, 2 Tommy Connolly (James McCann 75’), 3 Jack McFarland (Callum McWhirter 69’), 4 Ben Leek, 5 Jamie Donnell, 6 Tommy Taggert, 7 Kenny Ximenes, 8 Lee McMenemy (Elijah Whetherall 75’), 9 Jadon Morgan, 10 Ethan Nethery, 11 Liam Corr (Joe Silva 75’).

ST. COLUMB’S COLLEGE: 1 Joe McConnellogue, 2 Conor Barr, 3 Ryan McLaughlin, 4 Peter Tracey, 5 Darragh McCloskey, 6 Riley Fitzpatrick, 7 Shae Feeney (Shay Healy 72’), 8 Joshua Callaghan, 9 Jack McFeely, 10 Sean Carlin, 11 James Campbell (Noah McHugh 53).

REFEREE: Frankie Shanks.