GAA: Cathal clinches Cup win for St Malachy’s
12/2/2008 - By Ciaran Daly
DANNY FLYNN CUP U-14S VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FOOTBALL FINAL
ST MALACHY’S 5-06 ST JOSEPH’S 2-06
A SUPERB performance from Cathal Tumilty helped St Malachy’s clinch the Danny Flynn Cup, writes Ciaran Daly.
The full forward scored two and set up another two of the Castlewellan School’s five goals.
It proved to be the difference between the sides as St Joseph’s threatened to stage a revival in the second half.
The Newry side valiantly never gave in but Castlewellan showed enough tenacity to pull away from their opponents late on.
The match looked to have been all but over after only twenty minutes. St Malachy’s had notched up an impressive tally of 2-03 while St Joseph’s had yet to find the target.
The first score of the game came on five minutes. A fast break led by Aidan Lawless found Cathal Tumilty in space. He fed inside to Sean McCabe. The corner forward showed enough presence of mind to pick out Conn Rooney in space. Rooney was emphatic with his finish as he blasted into the net.
Things went from bad to worse for Newry just one minute later. A long ball forward evaded Terry Morgan. Cathal Tumilty pounced on the loose ball and showed his lightning fast pace to sprint away from his man towards goal. His speed was matched by his composure in front of goal as he buried the ball once again into the Newry net.
Two goals to the good St Malachy’s played with bags of confidence and dominated possession. Scores from Tumilty and Rooney stretched their lead to 2-03 to 0-00.
St Joseph’s though were growing into the game. Their endeavours were rewarded on 23 minutes when Keelan Rice converted a free from distance.
The score ended the confidence crisis within the St Joseph’s ranks and they added to their tally before half time. Terry Morgan was employed in a more advanced role and his good work set up Martin Duffy for Newry’s second point of the game.
Aidan Lawless managed a point for St Malachy’s before the whistle blew for half time. With thirty minutes of football to be played St Malachy’s held a convincing 2-04 to 0-02 lead.
The Castlewellan outfit began the second half as they had the first, with scores. Tumilty pointed before grabbing his side’s third goal on 38 minutes. A neat inter-change with Sean McCabe placed Tumilty in front of goal and he drilled his shot low into the bottom corner.
St Joseph’s response was immediate. Keelan Rice’s short free found Terry Morgan in space. He let fly with a ferocious shot from 21 yards that almost burst the net.
Robert McGreevy and Keelan Rice added points on 38 and 42 minutes respectively as St Joseph’s began to dominate.
When Keelan Rice slotted another goal in on 43 minutes what had seemed like the most unlikely of comebacks seemed possible.
With the score reading 3-05 to 2-04 there was everything to play for.
St Malachy’s though showed true grit and determination to put the game to bed.
On 53 minutes Cathal Tumilty tormented the St Joseph’s defence once again. This time he unselfishly offloaded to substitute Stephen Ward who got a goal minutes after his introduction.
St Malachy’s added another goal with five minutes to play. A one two between Aidan McCartan and Sean McCabe placed McCartan in front of goal. He dummied the keeper to give himself an easy finish.
Newry did not let their heads drop and their outstanding performer, Keelan Rice pointed once more. Martin Duffy also scored another point on 30 minutes to leave the score sitting at 2-06 to 5-05.
St Malachy’s managed to register the last point of the game in injury time. It came courtesy of Aidan McCartan and it capped a memorable victory for the Castlewellan side.
Rory Burns and Conn Rooney lifted the Danny Flynn Cup and will be hoping they can go on to lift the Ulster title in 2009.
ST MALACHY’S U-14s: Rory Burns, Aidan Doherty, Martin Brannigan, Francie McKinney, Aidan Fulcher, Luke Kelly, Cathal Rodgers, Aidan McCartan, Conn Rooney, Aidan Lawless, Caolan McAleenan, Tiernan Haughian, Sean McCabe, Cathal Tumilty, Ceilum Doherty (Subs) Paul Young, Stephen Ward, Gavin McElroy,
ST JOSEPH’S, NEWRY: John O’Hare, David Hughes, Terry Morgan, Ruairi McArdle, Brian McParland, Keelan O’Connor, Daniel McCarthy, Robert McGreevy, Curtis Sands, Keelan Rice, Martin Duffy, Kevin Morgan, Conor Cranny, Stephen McDermott, Gary Harte