Naomh Colmcille CLG – Donegal

04/09/2010
Naomh Colmcille travelled to O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny yesterday evening to play Downings in the third game play off in the Junior A Championship 1st round, following Naomh Colmcille’s win in the first leg and last week’s Downings victory.

Conditions were good in O’Donnell Park, with a slight breeze and a dry playing surface.

Last week it was Downings who drew first blood with a goal in the first minute but it was Naomh Colmcille’s turn yesterday when Barry O’Hagan and Ryan McKinley combined to set up Ciaran Devine, who found the net with a powerful shot into the top right corner on 5 minutes.

Naomh Colmcille proceded to stamp their authority on the opening quarter, however they were unable to add to their lead until the 14th minute when Richard Clarke rose to fist over a 45.

Downings followed up with a long range point, but this was to be their only score of the first half.

Naomh Colmcille were winning their battles in most areas of the pitch and great running from the half back line and midfield created space in which to set up attacks. At the other end their intensity in defence forced Downings to shoot from difficult positions under pressure, resulting in several wides.

In the second quarter, Naomh Colmcille began to convert their possession into scores. Barry O’Hagan pointed after exchanging passes with Liam Grant and Ryan McErlean got off the mark when he made a run out from under the posts to collect a Barry O’Hagan free, turned, powered past his marker and sent the ball between the posts with his fist.

Downings were finding it hard to cope with Naomh Colmcille’s running and quick movement of the ball and as the first half drew to a close, Richard Clarke showed great awareness to get himself one on one against the Downings right corner back when Naomh Colmcille won a free in midfield. Barry O’Hagan put the ball in, Clarke won the ball in the air, turned and cooly slotted the ball low into the goal past the Downings keeper.

Downings carved out a goal chance a couple of minutes later, but it was skewed wide under great pressure from the Naomh Colmcille defence.

With a few minutes left in the first half, Anthony Grant came on to replace his brother, Liam.

As the ref blew it up for half time, the scoreline read 2-03 to 0-1 in Naomh Collmcille’s favour and the Naomh Colmcille support cheered the team off the pitch after an excellent first half performance.

Liam Grant was patched up at half time and came back on for the second half. The teams exchanged points in the third quarter. Barry O’Hagan sent over a free after Liam Grant was pulled down when breaking through the centre. Downings replied with a point from play after working possession from a sideline ball. Ryan McErlean got his second point of the game after Liam Grant won another free when bending to pick up a loose ball in the centre.

Downings replied with a free and then got themselves back into the game with a goal,with a shot from the left finding its way through a crowd of defenders and crashing in off the right hand post. Downings were beginning to get into the game and followed up with two further points from play, bringing the scores to 2-05 to 1-05.

However, Naomh Colmcille showed no signs of panic and contined to play good football. Richard Clarke won a Downings kickout, fisted forward to Thomas McKinley who burst through the centre and sent the ball over. McKinley followed up with another a few minutes later. Play was stopped for an injury inside the Downings 45 with Naomh Colmcille in possession. McKinley dropped deep to receive the ball from Barry O’Hagan, exchanged passes with the Armagh man and sent the ball over from 30 metres.

Downings pulled one back from play, but Ciaran Callaghan replied for Naomh Colmcille after being put through by Cathal Curran. Downings were putting the Naomh Colmcille defence under pressure at this stage, but the backs showed no signs of panic and this was typified when a Downings attack was broken down and the ball worked quickly all the way from back to front to Thomas McKinley who finished with a great point. The lead was stretched further soon after when Richard Clarke intercepted a Downings clearance and fed Ryan McKinley, who split the posts under pressure.
With around 5 minutes to go Downings got a second goal, bringing the scores to 2-10 to 2-06. They followed up with a point from play, to close the gap to 3 points again. Downings were throwing everything forward but the Naomh Colmcille defence held firm.

With 5 minutes of injury time to play and only 3 points between the teams, Downings continued to press forward in search of a score. The entire Naomh Colmcille defence was called upon to hold off the Downings onslaught. Disciplined tackling from Cathal Curran, Paul McGill and Alex Devenney, a tidy save from Marty Callaghan in goals, great blocks from Paul Friel, Ciaran Devine and Gerard Curran assisted by cover from the midfield and half forward line all combined to keep Downings out.

And with a minute to go Naomh Colmcille again broke down an attack and worked the ball from back to front, with Ryan McErlean finishing from a tight angle on the right under pressure from his marker.This was to be the last score of the game, and as the ref blew the final whistle, the travelling support cheered their team off the pitch with the scoreboard reading 2-11 to 2-07 in Naomh Colmcille’s favour.

In the first half Naomh Colmcille’s powerful attacking coupled with their intense and disciplined defending built up the lead that gave them the platform for the second half. Downings were always likely to get back into the game, but during crucial periods in the second half Naomh Colmcille showed great commitment at the back to keep Downings at bay together with conviction in attack to keep adding to their scoreline and overall were deserving winners in the end.

This was probably the biggest test this team has faced since Stephen Friel took charge at the beginning of last year and Naomh Colmcille passed with flying colours.

Naomh Colmcille:

Marty Callaghan

Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Paul McGill
Thomas McKinley (0-03), Cathal Curran, Gerard Curran
Richard Clarke (1-01), Ciaran Devine (1-00),
Ryan McKinley (0-01), Barry O’Hagan (0-02), Liam Grant
Ryan McErlean (0-03), Joe Donaghey, Ciaran Callaghan (0-01)

Subs: Anthony Grant for Liam Grant
Barry McDaid, Declan McDaid, Ruction Callaghan, Eddie Gillespie, Paddy O’Donnell, Gerard Devenney, Andrew Clarke