St Eunan's College much too good for St Columba's Comprehensive School, Glenties

A much physically superior St Eunan’s College had little difficulty in overcoming the St Columba’s Comprehensive School in a one-sided encounter in Glenswilly on Friday.

The Letterkenny scholars were on top in all departments against a Glenties side who were minus their Ardara contingent, who are playing in a minor semi-final this weekend.

Cathal Doherty and Matthew Enright opened the scoring for Eunan’s while Liam McGinley made it 0-3 to 0-0 after ten minutes. Enright would finish with a hat trick of goals on his home sod.

St Eunan’s were winning all of the kick-outs, but gritty St Columba’s replied with a well-taken point from Logan Melly and a brace from Stephen McDevitt to level matters by the 15th minute.

But St Eunan’s always looked menacing and they hit a fine goal after a great run from Jack Robinson set up Enright with a simple tap-in on the 16th-minute.

The outgunned Glenties school did not buckle though and Conor Farrell made it 1-3 to 0-4 as Aaron McGinley and Evan Hurley swapped points with the impressive Farrell for the ‘Comp.

Donnachadha Malone pointed for St Columba’s as Paul Devin added to the St Eunan’s tally as they led by 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.

On the resumption, Daithi Molloy and Shea Boyle exchanged points as St Eunan’s looked to consolidate their immense possession.

But Leo McLoone’s men had a flicker of hope when, after a fine move, Farrell sent a rocket to the roof of the St Eunan’s net to make it a three-point game.

However, that was as good as it got for St Columba’s as St Eunan’s hit back with a point from Callum McGilloway and a coolly finished goal from Enright to put the Letterkenny lads into a 2-12 to 0-7 lead, and there was simply no way back for Glenties.

The powerful Paul Devine added another point for St Eunan’s as sub Jonah Cannon’s palmed goal was disallowed as he was ruled to be inside the square when he made contact with the ball.

Meanwhile, Liam McGinley added another point for St Eunan’s before St Columba’s hit back with a second goal from sub  Senan O’Donnell to reduce the margin to seven points.

Cannon increased St Eunan’s lead with another point as did the towering McGilloway. 

Devine added on another point before Enright got his third goal with Farrell rounding off the scoring for the Genties school.

This was an impressive win for St Eunan’s over a weakened Glenties outfit and they have the look of a team who could do really well in the upcoming MacLarnon Cup.

St Eunan’s scorers: Matthew Enright 3-2, Paul Devine 0-4, 1f; Cormac Crossan 0-3; Cathal Doherty and Callum McGilloway 0-2 each; Evan Daly, Aaron McGinley, Evan Hurley, Shea Boyle and Jonah Cannon 0-1 each.

St Columba’s Comprehensive School scorers: Conor Farrell 1-2; Senan O’Donnell 1-0; Stephen McDevitt and Daithi Molloy 0-2 each; Logan Melly and Donnachadha Malone 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s: Cormac Crossan; Ronan Lynch, Liam McGinley, Mark Gibbons; Cormac Cassidy, Evan Doherty, Cathal Doherty; Callum McGilloway, Paul Devine; Aaron McGinley, Paul Mullen, Jack Robinson; Evan Hurley, Matthew Enright, Shea Boyle.

Subs: Jonah Cannon, Jamie McFadden and Mathew McGinley for Ronan Lynch, Aaron McGinley and Shea Boyle (all 35), Ryan Bradley for Paul Mullen (40).

St Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties: Darragh Kennedy; Noah Bonner, Niall Roarty, Eoghan Quinn; Daniel Breslin, Odhran Bonner, Aidan Gallagher; Jamie Byrne, Daithi Molloy; Oisin Bonner, Stephen McDevitt, Conor Farrell; Logan Melly, Donnachadh Malone. Oran Brannigan. 

Subs: Senan O’Donnell for Eoghan Quinn (31).

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan).