Carndonagh Community School pipped at the post by Ballygawley in Markey Cup final

There was heartbreak for Carndonagh Community School at Owenbeg on Thursday afternoon as they lost out to an injury time goal against St Ciaran’s Ballygawley in the Danske Bank Markey Cup final.

Played in very windy conditions, the Inishowen lads struck for a goal late in the first half to establish a six point lead, but on the stroke of half-time St Ciaran’s also found the net to cut the deficit to three.

Playing against the elements in the second half Carndonagh looked to be in serious trouble especially after falling four behind with only eight minutes left to play. The character composure and kill that stood to them throughout came to the fore as they battled back to get on level terms and when Billy Hume put them in front with a brilliant score they had one hand on the trophy.

It was cruelly snatched away from them however with their opponents getting their fourth and decisive goal a minute into injury time. The display of the entire Carndonagh Community School side can’t be faulted on a day when Danny Óg Cooney, Joe Doherty and Callum Kelly were outstanding.

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It was Callum Kelly who opened the scoring with a peach of a point from out on the left wing and that was soon followed by an orange flag from a Doherty free off the ground. St Ciaran’s replied with a brace from Darren McAnespie and one from Shea McDermott but it was the Carndonagh school who were looking the sharper side. Cooney and Patrick Doherty both weighed in with brilliant two pointers and they should have found themselves further in front.

A fortunate McDermott goal in the 23^rd minute reduced the deficit to the minimum but Carndonagh wasted no time in responding. Kelly and Tiernan Diver both landed points either side of a brilliant goal from Cooney after he had gone past five challenges. They looked well placed at that stage but in the last attack of the half McDermott lashed the ball to the roof of the net to leave it 1-9 to 2-3 at the break.

Elliot Kerr and a McAnespie two pointer had the sides level within three minutes of the restart before a well worked move saw wing half back Hugh McGinn restore Carndonagh’s lead. McDermott and Joe Doherty exchanged points before Carndonagh suffered another setback when a quick free from McDermott set up Jude Curran for a third Ballgawley goal.

Matthew Hughes then left three between the sides but once again Carndonagh displayed their resolve as first Kelly and then Donncha O’Callaghan reduced the gap. The Tyrone team, though, were proving difficult to contain and Marcus McLaughlin weighed in with a fabulous two pointer followed by a single score to leave four between the sides with eight minutes left to play.

That would have broke the resistance of most sides but not this Carndonagh one as within 60 seconds a brilliant pass from Patrick Doherty put Dylan Doherty in for a well taken goal.

The momentum had switched again and after Joe Doherty had levelled matters Hume landed an outstanding score into the wind with the outside of his boot in the 58th minute for the lead.

Unfortunately though they couldn’t hold onto their slender advantage with substitute Conan Canavan taking a pass from McLaughlin to drill the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net before fellow replacement Jack Kelly tagged on the insurance score.

Carndonagh scorers: Danny Og Cooney 1-2 (one 2pt), Joe Doherty 0-4 (one 2pt, 1f), Callum Kelly 0-3, Dylan Doherty 1-0, Patrick Doherty 0-2 (one 2pt), Tiernan Diver 0-1, Hugh McGinn 0-1, Billy Hume 0-1, D O’Callaghan 0-1 (1f)

Ballygawley scorers: Shea McDermott 2-2, Darren McAnespie 0-4 (two 2pt), Marcus McLaughlin 0-3 (one 2pt), Jude Curran 1-0, Conan Canavan 1-0, Matthew Hughes 0-1 Elliot Kerr 0-1, Jack Kelly 0-1

Carndonagh Community School: Sam Coyle, Odhran Douglas, Tiernan Diver, Niall O’Donnell, Hugh McGinn, Senan Grant, Callum Kelly, Sonny Bonner, Joe Doherty, Thomas McGeoghegan, Patrick Doherty, Dylan Doherty, Donncha O’Callaghan, Danny Og Cooney, Billy Hume. Sub: Conor McColgan for McGeoghegan

St Ciaran’s Ballygawley: Dara O’Neill Oran McGeary, Odhran Callaghan, James Boyle, Callam McWilliam, Miceal Mullin, Elliot Kerr, Darren McAnespie, Matthew Hughes, Jude Curran, Shea McDermott, Conall Shevlin, Conor Quinn, Michael McDermott, Marcus McLasughlin. Subs: Conan Canavan for Quinn, Jack Kelly for Michael McDermott

Referee: Cianan Caney, Derry