Donegal South West fall agonisingly short as St Colman’s snatch late win

St Colman’s super-sub Ryan Cookson broke the hearts of a gallant Donegal South West side who deserved at least a draw after a titanic tussle in Baltic conditions in Garvaghey. 

Cookson showed nerves of steel as he cooly converted a mark in the 58th minute to put his side into a 0-8 to 0-7 lead. 

The South West team threw everything into attack and corner-back Liam Breathnach’s inch-perfect shot glanced off the upright and into play and two more attacks sadly resulted in two more wides. 

A draw would have been a fairer result between two very evenly matched sides who traded score for score in an entertaining hour’s football. 

The South West team began well with Shane Callaghan opening the scoring after a well-worked move, a score that was negated by a similar fine effort from Colman’s Aaron Garvey. 

And that set the pattern for end-to-end stuff as Colman’s elegant full-forward Corey Clerkin put the Down College into the lead but neither side was able to get a two-point advantage which made for a compelling fare.  

Darragh Hennigan could have had a goal for the South West school when he profited from a mistake in the Colman’s full-back line. 

But his blasted effort flew over the bar as the sides tied at 0-2 each after eight minutes. 

A Danny Brown free put the Donegal lads back in front as Clerkin levelled for the Down side. 

South West then had another great chance of a goal when a lightning move saw wing forward Ethan Byrne one-on-one with Colman’s keeper Niall Howlett. 

But Byrne’s blasted shot from an angle was brilliantly saved by Colman’s keeper Howlett at the expense of a 45 which was not converted. 

Eoin Braniff edged the Down college in front, and this was negated by a similar effort from Eoghan Ban McNelis for the South West team as the sides tied at 0-4 each at the break. 

It got even colder on the resumption, but the intensity never faltered on the field. 

Callaghan put South West ahead but this was superbly answered by a point from the sideline from Eoin Duffy for Colman’s. 

South West sub Colm Doherty put his side back in front by 0-6 to 0-5, but Clerkin levelled matters again. 

By now Cookson was on the field for Colman’s as Brown put the Donegal side ahead by 0-7 to 0-6, just six minutes from time. 

But that was to be their last score as Cookson hit two late points to clinch the tie for Colman’s 

The South West lads tried everything but luck was not with them on this cold Wednesday in Tyrone. 

Donegal South West scorers: Shane Callaghan 0-2; Danny Brown 0-2,1f; Darragh Hennigan, Colm Doherty, and Eoghan Ban McNelis 0-1 each. 
St Colman’s scorers: Corey Clerkin 0-3, 1f; Ryan Cookson 0-2, 1’mark’; Eoin Duffy 0-2; Eoin Braniff 0-1. 

Donegal South West: Padraig McBride; Cathal McGee, Thomas McDevitt, Liam Breathnach; Alex Cunnea, Jordi Gribbon, Max Campbell; Darragh Hennigan, Shane Callaghan; Ethan Byrne, Cathal Rua Gallagher, Cianain McDaid; Padraig O’Donnell, Eoghan Ban McNelis, Danny Brown. Subs: Colm Doherty for Eoghan Ban McNelis (49), Oisin Diver and Gavin Sweeney for Danny Brown and Padraig O’Donnell. 

St Colman’s Newry: Niall Howlett; Caolan McGinley, Oisin Murphy, Ruairi McEvoy; Aaron Garvey, Aaron Haughey, Tomas O’Late/Wade; Martin McKinley, Nathan Caulfield; Dylan Cunningham, Eoin Duffy, Shay Begley; Eoin Braniff, Corey Clerkin, Harry Fearon. Subs: Ryan Cookson for Shay Begley (h-time) 

Referee: Mark Loughran (Errigal Ciaran)