St Patrick’s Cavan 0-14

St Colmans Newry 2-5

St Mary’s Park Castleblayney was the setting for the 2024 Corn na nÓg (U14.5A) final as St Pat’s Cavan sought to land their first title at this grade since 2017. St Colman’s Newry entered the final after reaching last year’s Dalton final and overturning St Pat’s Armagh in the semi-final. The Cavan lads overcame St Pat’s Maghera in their respective semi-final and a tight contest was anticipated by the large crowd gathered at the well-appointed Monaghan venue.

St Pat’s Cavan started strongly and opened the scoring through Belturbet’s lively corner forward Ben O’Reilly from an acute angle in the right corner. O’Reilly’s effort was followed up by two neat points off the left boot of midfielder Killian Smith & a point from play from Butlersbridge’s Senan Graham. St Colman’s opened their account after 15 minutes from full forward Patrick Joyce after his shot from 45m bounced up and over the crossbar.

Cavan’s response was strong however, as the industrious wing forward Enda Burke hit a point on the run off his left which was quickly followed by Mullahoran’s Darragh McKenna drilling over from play off his right after quick hands by full forward Donncha Gaffney. By this stage, St Pat’s were dominating the middle sector of the field and were teak tight at the back which was encapsulated by an excellent piece of defending by full-back Noah Costello when he prevented a certain goal opportunity. In the lead up to halftime, they made their dominance show on the scoreboard with two more points from open play from full forward Senan Graham, the first after brave play by midfielder Jack Forde which created the chance.

Half time:

St Pat’s Cavan 0-8

St Colman’s Newry 0-1

The second half began with St Colman’s starting with renewed impetus as they hit a quick point off the throw in from impressive wing back Eoghan Bradley. This was responded to by Cavan’s centre forward Darragh Maguire, who cut in from the left wing and floated over smartly from the edge of the ‘D’. Eoghan Bradley hit his second, this time an excellent score off outside of right boot from right wing to bring the score to 0-9 to 0-3 after 10 minutes of the second half.

Drumlane’s Enda Burke then hit his second of the day, this time a neat point from play off his left boot from the left wing to increase the St Pat’s lead to 7, before Colman’s were then awarded a penalty by Monaghan inter county referee Niall McKenna. Up stepped Joyce who excellently dispatched to the top right corner to leave 4 between the sides entering the final quarter as the Down school started to apply the pressure on the Cullies lads.

At this juncture a response was needed from the Cavan lads & Darragh Mckenna duly obliged by clipping over off his left to register his second of the day. Drumalee goalkeeper George Donohoe was then called into action & tipped a rasping shot around the post to prevent a goal bound effort from the Newry men. Laragh United’s Jack Forde was  then chopped down after a rampaging run on the counter attack and Ben O’Reilly made no mistake from the resulting dead ball. St Pat’s had stemmed the Colman’s revival and picked off another Burke free to stretch the lead back to 6 entering injury time as the huge Cavan support behind the Carrickmacross end goals longed for the final whistle. Deep into injury time, St Colman’s hit their second major after a goal line scramble to leave 3 between the sides but it was no more than a consolation. This was then followed by Niall McKenna’s long whistle with the Cullies lads deserved three point victors.

St Pat’s captain Zach Byrne from the Cavan Gaels club, became the 6th student from the Cavan college to lift the Corn na nÓg trophy after the game. Jubilant scenes followed as students, family members, staff and the wider college community revelled in what was a great victory for St Patrick’s College, their first at Ulster schools level since the 2022 Oisín McGrath (U15.5A) success.

Huge credit must go to every one of the 1st and 2nd year students involved in the panel for all their hard work since our return to school in September & to their families and clubs for their unwavering support. Finally, a massive well done to the management team of Mr Gavin McNerney, Mr Garry Duignan and Mr Fearghail Sheridan whose commitment to leaving no stone unturned in preparing their charges was visible for all to see on the day. The panel and management will now look forward to regrouping and launching an assault on the Oisín McGrath Cup next year.

Ad Meliora lads!!!!! 🟦🟨🏆⚽️