Caolan McColgan just happy to have played a part in Naomh Padraig triumph

Caolan McColgan put his recent hamstring woes behind him in spectacular fashion to help seal Naomh Padraig’s amazing Ulster JFC final win over Craigbane. 

The Donegal flier has been hampered with the strain ever since his side’s county final win over Carndonagh back in early October. 

But when they really needed him, McColgan was back in from the off against the Derry champions. 

And it was his stunning solo goal right at the start of the second-half that lit the touch paper as Naomh Padraig went 2-3 to 0-5 clear. 

To be fair to Craigbane, they remained in contention right up until the final whistle as matters ended 3-7 to 1-12 just in the Donegal side’s favour. 

Still, McColgan with 1-1 to his name, was just happy to finally be able to make a dent in matters after a frustrating number of weeks hampered by that troublesome injury. 

“It’s a proud day and it’s just great to be involved and make a contribution,” he said. “The lads have been brilliant. We’ve a great squad and it showed again today just how close we are.

“We didn’t have a great start to Division 2 of the league but to get some of the results we eventually did, it made us think we could give the Junior championship a real rattle. 

“We didn’t give the kind of account we know is in us in the last few years in the championship but we certainly did this year.

“This is special and to win silverware with the lads you grow up with, it was just amazing. It’s beyond yout wildest dreams to be honest”.

 And just like captain Dermot Keaveney, McColgan was quick to reference the late Evan Craig, their former teammate, who sadly passed away back in September. 

“Evan was such as great lad and a huge part of the group. But the county title and now this, we wanted to make him proud and I hope we have”.