Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin crowned Ulster Junior Football Champions 

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin’s remarkable 2024 propelled itself to new heights on Saturday as they landed a historic Ulster JFC title. 

Derry’s Craigbane never threw in the towel and even up until the last seconds, they were looking to turn the tide. 

However, even though they were a little off colour on the day, Daniel McCauley’s side were still deserving winners in this entertaining provincial decider. 

In the end, it was the Donegal champions’ ability to find the back of the net that proved decisive as three maximums helped fend off their game opponents. 

And while a late, late green flag of their own pulled Craigbane right back onto Naomh Padraig coattails, the final whistle immediately signalled right after. 

Back at the beginning, Craigbane were first off the mark on five minutes thanks to a Jude McLaughlin free. Cormac McColgan soon followed that up with a fine strike from distance. 

Johnny Toye also showed his ability to land from out the park as he launched a 60m free from the hands straight over the black spot. 

Craigbane continued to make inroads into the Naomh Padraig defensive third but wayward shooting let them down on three successive occasions. 

On the quarter-hour mark, Naomh Padraig stole a real march when Toye’s effort from a free dropped short and in the sea of vertical hands - just like last time out against Collegeland - it was Drew McKinney that swatted to the back of the net. 

Naomh Padraig then had penalty shouts waved away as Caolan McColgan seemed to be bundled over inside the area. The play was brought back for a close-range free which Kevin Doherty converted. 

A goal continued to separate the sides as Jude Óg Moore registered to leave it 1-3 to 0-3 eight minutes out from the break. 

Moore continued to prove a useful focal point for the Oak Leafers and he both won and clipped over a close range free as the gap now slipped to two. 

Headed into added time and Moore, with another free, his third over of the game, left just a single white flag in it at 1-3 to 0-5 and that’s how it remained at the break. 

The second-half was barely a minute old when crossed wires on the Craigbane 45’ resulted in possession being coughed up. 

Caolan McColgan, quiet up until that point, picked that gift ball up and propelled himself all the way towards goal before blasting high and to the net. 

The Donegal man, hampered by a hamstring injury since the county final, quickly added a point as the deficit jumped out to five. 

Aaron Sharkey did very well to stem the tide for Craigbane but Cormac McColgan, right down the other side, left it 2-5 to 0-7.

Creeping towards the fourth and final quarter full-back Eoin Coll pulled it back to a goal. 

Craigbane - who came back from eight down in their semi-final win - trimmed matters further as McLaughlin sailed over from the wide left. 

Just when it looked like the tide was turning, a determined drive from Eunan Mullan seen his initial shot blocked down, by what looked like a foot. 

However, before the Inishowen side has even time to appeal for that, substitute Kevin Lynch swept home from close range for a third Naomh Padraig goal. 

Lynch, making a real difference now, also grabbed a point but a Craigbane brace, through Moore and James McLaughlin, left just a goal in it at 3-6 to 0-12 with five to go. 

As matters drifted into the red, another Lynch effort, from a free, widened the difference to four. 

And while a Bliain Gormely goal at the death threatened to spoil the party, the full-time whistle denied those intentions and it was Naomh Padraig that deservingly held on to take the win. 

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin scorers: Drew McKinney 1-0; Kevin Lynch 1-2; Colan McColgan 1-1; Jonathan Toye 0-1,1f; Cormac McColgan 0-2; Kevin Doherty 0-1,1f.

Craigbane scorers: Jude McLaughlin 0-4,3f; Lee Moore 0-4,2f; Aaron Sharkey 0-1; Jude Og Moore 1-1,1f; James McLaughlin 0-1; Eoin Coll 0-1. 

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin: Oran McCauley; Cormac Kelly, Caolan Harkin, Darragh McInytre; Michael McCarron, Jonathan Toye, Jason McCallion; Eunan Mullan, Cormac McColgan; Oisin McIntyre, Kevin Doherty, Rory Hirrell; Joseph McCauley, Drew McKinney, Caolan McColgan. 

Subs: Kevin Lynch for J McCauley (ht), Ronan Hoy for M McCarron (40), Dermot Keaveney for K Doherty (53), Cathal McColgan for O McIntyre (60+1).

Craigbane: Ben O’Kane; Oisin O’Donnell, Eoin Coll, Liam Crossan; Conor McLaughlin, Rory Moore, James McLaughlin; Blain Gormely, Jude Og Moore; Aaron Sharkey, Jacob McElhinney, Fergal Mortimer; Brian Rainey, Lee Moore, Jude McLaughlin. 

Subs: Niall Feeney for Crossan (ht), Cahir O’Kane and Pierce McCloskey for Sharkey and Rainey (both 54).

Referee: Mark Laughran (Tyrone).