Five-goal Jude Bryson sends St. Columb's College into Casement Shield final

Danske Bank Casement Shield semi-final

St Columb’s Derry 5-11

Coláiste Feirste 0-17

THERE will be a northwest final pairing to decide the destination of the Danske Bank Casement Shield next week after this high-scoring semi-final in Owenbeg this afternoon.

Victory for St Columb’s Derry means that they now face St Patrick’s Dungiven with a chance to not only lift the Shield but progress to an All-Ireland semi-final next month.

There were four scoring stars in the game, two from St Columb’s who each scored on seven occasions and two from Coláiste Feirste who split the posts six times each. However Jude Bryson’s contribution stood apart from the other three as his five goals ultimately decided the game.

The Na Magha forward scored four of those goals in the opening half with his St Columb’s team-mate Cathal McNicholl scoring all five points to take the boys from the maiden city to an interval lead of 4-5 to 0-9 from Coláiste Feirste with Tomás Mac Adaim keeping the Belfast school in the battle with five white flags.

Oran Morris became the third St Columb’s player to register a score when he pointed early in the second half. But Nathan Mac Cionnaith was starting to make an impact at the other end with the first of his five second half points, all from open play.

Bryson and McNicholl responded with points while scores from defenders Oisín Ó hÉanna and Aaron Ó Coinn, along with Mac Cionnaith, brought the Falls Road team a little closer. However Bryson’s fifth goal put St Columb’s in a strong position going into the final quarter and they were able to maintain that gap between the teams through to the final whistle.

The two main scorers were of course key to the outcome of the game while the midfielders, Fearal Cutliffe and Bryson’s brother Joe put in a good shift. Also worthy of a mention are defenders Oran Morris at the centre of the defence and Kayne Posonby who picked up Mac Adaim and kept him to three points from play.

Nathan Mac Cionnaith was excellent during the second half for Coláiste Feirste, while Aaron Ó Coinn and Oisín Ó hÉanna put in a solid hour. However the goals came early and it meant that Coláiste Feirste were chasing the game from the start.

St Columb’s: J Bryson 5-2, C McNicholl 0-7, 0-3 frees, O Morris and T McFeely 0-1 each.

Coláiste Feirste: T Mac Adaim (3 frees) and N Mac Cionnaith 0-6 each, O Ó hÉanna (1 free) and A Ó Coinn 0-2 each, O Mag Uidhir 0-1.

St Columb’s: Callum Mackey Richardson, Finn Mackey, Kayne Ponsonby, John Paul McCafferty, Rory Hope, Oran Morris, Conor O'Donnell, Fergal Cutliffe, Joe Bryson, Tiernan McFeeley, Cathal McNicholl, Eoin O'Kane, Jude Bryson, Liam Meenan, Oran Donnelly

Coláiste Feirste: Ciarnán Ó Cearúill, ⁠Cillian Ó Néill, ⁠Barra Mac Craith,⁠ Caomhán Ó Mealláin, ⁠Oisín Ó hÉanna, ⁠Aaron Ó Coinn, ⁠Christopher Mac Roibeaird, ⁠Ruairí Ó Scolláin, ⁠Conall Mac Mathúna, ⁠Aidan Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, ⁠Nathan Mac Cionnaoith, ⁠Tomás Ó Corráin, ⁠Dúaltach Ó Cianáin, ⁠Caolán Mac Coille, ⁠Tomás Mac Adaim

Sub: Odhran Mag Uidhir for C Mac Coille (44)