Brilliant St. Patrick's win dramatic Danske Bank Corn na nÓg final

St Patrick’s Maghera 2-10 . . . St Colman’s Monaghan 1-07

Past battles between Ulster schools' heavy-weights St Patrick's Maghera and St Colman's were relived in MUSA on Thursday of last week when the pair clashed in the Danske Bank Corn na nÓg final.

St Colman's came into the game as favourites as this group had collected the Dalton Cup last season, but Maghera were far from outsiders given their form on the way to the final.

In the end Maghera won by six points, but a minute from full-time the large crowd of supporters were getting prepared for extra time!

IN PICTURES: Corn na nÓg final success for St. Patrick's Maghera

St Colman's had come from six points down to make it a two points' game at 1-9 to 1-7 just as the game went into added time. Sub Sean O’Hara eased a little pressure by breaking the Newry run of five unanswered points with an excellent point from 35 metres. However St Colman's broke upfield and a well-executed move ended with Evan McElvanna being dragged down for a penalty.

Shea Savage struck the spot-kick well and sent Seamus óg Woulahan the wrong way. However the ball went the wrong side of the post and the Maghera supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief.

But the game wasn't over. The Derry boys won the kick-out. They fed the ball through to midfielder Pól McPeake who had moved up into the full-forward line. McPeake stepped inside his marker and blasted to the net to give his side a six points' winning margin that didn't look possible less than 60 seconds earlier.

Maghera deserved to win the game; they dominated for around 45 minutes and only looked in bother as the final whistle approached with St Colman's building a head of steam.

They were defensively sound with Donnacha Collins, Sionan McCormack, Dan McEldowney and Odhrán Bradley prominent. Pól McPeake got through a lot of work at midfield and Tadhg Bradley Cahir McDonnell and captain Don Mulholland troubled St Colman's at the back.

The final didn’t start well for the Newry side with midfielder Charlie Jennings breaking his collar-bone after just 90 seconds of play. His replacement Daniel Digney had a good game, as did Joe Gallagher, in his personal battle with Mulholland, Shea Savage and Cahir McCaul.

However from the 10th minute onwards the Newry team were falling behind on the score-board. Tadhg Bradley’s point put Maghera one up and, while both teams were guilty of poor shooting between then and the break, three injury-time points from Mulholland left his team with a comfortable interval lead of 0-7 to 0-2.

Early in the second half St Colman’s were back in the game when Paudie Morgan scrambled home a goal. However at the other end Fearghal McLarnon’s shot was saved by Jay Cunningham, but the ball broke for Joey Griffin to side-step Cunningham and hit the unguarded net.

Mulholland and Donnacha Collins then added points for Maghera, before St Colman’s began a run of four points without reply from the 48th to 55th minute that closed the gap to 1-9 to 1-7.

Although sub Sean O’Hara pointed at the start of injury time, Maghera were still vulnerable as demonstrated by the move that led to the penalty award. Luckily for Maghera they didn't have to pay the penalty (pardon the pun) and they were able to finish the game in style.

St Colman’s couldn’t take advantage however and Maghera finished the game with a second goal.

St Patrick’s: J Griffin 1-1, P McPeake 1-0 each, D Mulholland 0-4, 3 frees, D Collins 0-2, T Bradley, S McCormack and S O’Hara 0-1 each.

St Colman’s: P Morgan 1-0, P Joyce, J Gallagher and E McElvanna 0-2 each, H Hanna 0-1

St Patrick’s: Seamus Og Woulahan, Odhran Bradley, Dara McKaigue, Dan McEldowney, Donnacha Collins, Sionan McCormack, Fearghal McLarnon, Pól McPeake, Finn O'Neill, Oran Glackin, Tadhg Bradley, Cahir McDonnell, Joey Griffin, Aodhán Scullion, Don Mulholland capt.

Subs: Daniel Butcher for A Scullion (BS), Sean O’Hara for F McLarnon, D Butcher for C McDonnell

St Colman’s: J Cunnigham, O Morgan, T Mulligan, D McGeogh, F McHugh, J Tipping, J Gallagher, E Harty, C Jennings, P Morgan, E McElvanna, S Savage, P Joyce, H Hanna, C McCaul capt.

Subs: D Digney for C Jennings, D McKevitt for P Morgan (42), R Corbett for F McHugh (55)

Referee: B Toland (Antrim)