Coláiste Cholmcille come up just short in Markey Cup final

Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon lost out in the Markey Cup final to Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore under the lights at Rosslea.

Coláiste Cholmcille 1-10   Dean Maguirc 3-8

Goals either side of half-time proved the difference between the sides, who were well matched otherwise.

With time almost up at the interval James McCallan broke from midfield to lash an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net. The score left the winners ahead by 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.

But worse was to follow as from the throw-in Sean Og Teague powered through to fire home a second goal with just 17 seconds on the clock.

The Ballyshannon side worked really hard to get back in the contest and had reduced the margin to two when Dean Maguirc got a third goal after a goalmouth scramble with eight minutes left. The decision not to award a free out was one of a number of decisions which went against Coláiste Cholmcille in the final quarter.

The third  goal tore the heart out of the team but they kept plugging away but couldn't get the goal they needed.

The goals proved the difference with Aidan Woods, James McCallam and Michael Rafferty impressive for the winners.

Captain Ryan Barrett never gave in while Shane Delahunty, Kyle McNulty, Anton Govorov and Ronan Maher did all they could to keep Coláiste Cholmcille on the front foot.

In the end the real difference between the sides was that Dean Maguirc took their chances. Coláiste Cholmcille had a couple of goal chances in the opening half but failed to raise a green flag.

Anton Govorov had their first chance inside a minute but his effort was straight at the 'keeper. Govorov was lively in the opening half, involved in a number of good moves. Dean Maguirc had the opening points from Kevin Cuddy and a Sean Og Teague free.

Aonghus Sweeny and Ryan Barrett replied for Coláiste but Teague and two from Aidan Woods had the Carrickmore side 0-5 to 0-2 ahead on 16 minutes.

Anton Govorov won a free for Jack Gallagher to point and Kyle McNulty did well to set up Ryan Barrett for another shortly after. They should have had a goal on 25 minutes when a penetrating run from Shane Delahunty opened the defence but the final pass to Jack Gallagher was just not accurate enough and Gallagher wasn't able to divert to the open net.

Then when it looked as if there would be the minimum between them going into the dressing rooms, McCallan struck for the opening goal. The second goal from Sean Og Teague was followed by a  Darragh Loughran point to stretch the lead to 2-6 to 0-4 with just a minute of the second half played.

But Coláiste Cholmcille showed the battling qualities which got them to the final.  Kyle McNulty showed the way with a point and then almost had a goal as his shot tipped the crossbar on the way over.

The goal however, came, when Anton Govorov took off and came in along the endline to  fire to the net. Jack Gallagher added another point after good work from Eoghan Kelly and Ryan Barrett to reduce the margin to two points - 2-6 to 1-7 - with 42 minutes played.

Teague pointed and Aaron Cullen did well to deflect a Finbar Donnelly effort over the crossbar.

Then came the third goal after a scramble and time (and the referee) was not on Coláiste Cholmcille's side in the final minutes. Jack Gallagher added two points but then picked up a straight red card in added time before Kyle McNulty had the final  point of the  game.

Scorers for Coláiste Cholmcille: Jack Gallagher 0-4,2f; Kyle McNulty 0-3; Anton Govorov 1-0; Ryan Barrett 0-2; Aonghus Sweeny 0-1.

Dean Maguirc scorers: Sean Og Teague 1-3,1f; Calum Stewart, James  McCallan 1-0 each; Aidan Woods 0-2; Finbarr Donnelly, Darragh Loughran, Kevin Cuddy 0-1 each.

Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon: Aaron Cullen; Jame   s Monaghan, Aidan Sweeny, James P Gallagher; Ronan Maher, Eoghan Kelly, Shane Delahunty; Aonghus Sweeny, Ryan Barrett; James S Gallagher, Kyle McNulty, Ted O'Donnell; Anton Govorov, Jack Gallagher, Gero Gilmartin. Subs: Barry Campbell for O'Donnell (ht); Ryan Blanc for Gilmartin (54)

Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore: Killian Kerr; Finbarr  Donnelly, Pierce Byrne, Francie Hurson; Tomas Duff, Michael Rafferty,  Michael Coyle; Ronan Fox, James McCallan; Darragh Loughran, Aidan Woods, Sean Og Teague; Kevin Cuddy, Ryan Haughey, Ryan McCallan. Subs: Mickey J McGlinchey for Cuddy (26); Shea Munroe for R McCallan (38); Calum Stewart for Duff  (47).

Referee: Eoghan Murphy (Fermanagh)