Super St Columba's Stranorlar win the Markey Cup for the first time

St Columba's celebrate their victory in the Markey Cup final at Templeport, Co Cavan

placeholder image — St Columba's celebrate their victory in the Markey Cup final at Templeport, Co Cavan

The victory was decisive with the Stranorlar college producing a brilliant display of controlled football from start to finish to take home the Ulster crown

St Columba's, Stranorlar created their own piece of history winning a first ever Danske Bank Ulster Schools GAA Markey Cup when overcoming Virginia at Templeport.

St Columba's 1-13

Virginia College 0-6

The victory was decisive with the Stranorlar college producing a brilliant display of controlled football from start to finish.

They were short a few regulars, but they made light work of it, not conceding a goal throughout the competition.

They were on the board early through Ruairi Callaghan, the direct Andrew Murray and a Kevin McCormack free.

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Dean McCabe had a Virginia point but St Columba's were clinical with Josh McMenamin and two more from McCormack, the second after a great one-two with Murray.

Turlough Farrelly had a point from a free for Virginia but St Colulmba's were relentless and they got the only goal of the game on 21 minutes when McCormack took a quick free to Andrew Murray, who was pulled back and from the penalty spot McCormack fired to the left corner.

By half-time Jack Long, Murray and Eoin McGonagle added to their tally to leave them comfortably ahead 1-9 to 0-4, Farrelly and Matthew Smith getting the two Virginia points.

The second half was just as comfortable for the winners with four McCormack frees keeping Virginia at bay. The Cavan side hit eight wides and were denied by a post and a stubborn St Columba's defence, who gave little away. Virginia did get two late points in the final minutes of the half from Shane Keenan and Matthew Smith.

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Apart from those mentioned Conor McGinty, Sean Breen, Cian Mulligan, Charlie Byrne and Diarmuid O'Donnell were to the fore for the winners.

St Columba's scorers - Kevin McCormack 1-7,pen, 5f; Andrew Murray 0-2; Ruairi Callaghan, Eoin McGonagle, Josh McMenamin, Jack Long 0-1 each

St Columba's College, Stanorlar: Charlie Byrne; Alan Sproule, Ruairi Callaghan, Diarmuid O'Donnell; Jack Long, Sean Breen, Eoin McGonagle; Andrew Murray, Cian Mulligan; Josh McMenamin, Alan McMenamin, Conor McGinty; Karl Doherty, Kevin McCormack, Ciaran Dalton.

Virginia College: Oisin Rourke; Martin Comey, Adam McKenna, James O'Hara; Josh Husband, Nathan Ley Valensi, Pauric Morgan; Shane Keenan, Ryan Tobin; Oisin Donoghue, Turlough Farrelly, Matthew Smith; Dean McCabe, Cillian McCabe, Glen Ryan McCann.

Referee: James Lewis (Fermanagh)