04 December 2013
De La Salle 2-08-3-03 St Malachy’s
By Kevin Herron
De La Salle College Year-12s grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat to claim the first ever Danske Bank O’Hara Cup thanks to a 2-08-3-03 win over Belfast rivals St Malachy’s at the Dub on Friday evening. The West Belfast side took the early initiative with five un-answered points, though a penalty miss gave St Malachy’s hope and they fought back to reduce the deficit to a single point at the break. The Antrim Road side hit the front early in the second half and lead by four points with five minutes of regulation time remaining, but two late goals turned the game on its head and ensured that the De La Salle’s name would be the first engraved on the O’Hara Cup which will reside at Edenmore Drive.
Both teams struggled to adapt to the wet and blustery conditions at the South Belfast venue with a wide a-piece. It was De La Salle who struck the game’s opening point though, Francis Dugan won possession from Kevin McCann’s flick on and split the posts excellently. St Malachy’s had their fair share of first half scoring chances, but by the 10th minute they had registered four wides. De La Salle on the other hand were more clinical in front of the posts and by the mid-way point in the first half led by three points. Dugan added his second point of the game from a tight angle on 11 minutes, before half-forward Cailean Walsh caught a clean ball from a free and popped the ball over the bar to make it 0-03-0-00.
St Malachy’s continued to misfire in front of the posts and by the 20th minute had struck six wides. At the other end of the field De La Salle continued to punish them with Francis Dugan converting a free, before Ryan Rooney combined with Niall Crawford for a point to make it 0-05-0-00. On 24 minutes De La Salle had the chance to increase their lead further when corner-forward Conor Nolan was fouled on route to goal and referee Eddie Fitzsimmons signalled for a penalty.
Unfortunately for the youngster the conditions got the better of him and moment similar to John Terry in Moscow2008, Nolan slipped at the moment of contact and screwed his penalty wide of the goal, much to the relief of the St Malachy’s contingent.
This gave the Antrim Road side a lift and they finally registered their first score of the game on 26 minutes when Brendan O’Callaghan drove the ball between the sticks. Things got much better for St Malachy’s on the stroke of half time. A long ball into the De La Salle area was met by Matthew Magennis who palmed the ball over goal-keeper Barry Webb to leave a point between the sides at the break 0-05-1-01, despite De La Salle’s first half dominance.
St Malachy’s returned after the break and took the game to De La Salle; they got their just rewards four minutes into the second half. Once again a high ball into the box caused problems in the De La Salle defence and once again on hand to fist the ball home was Matthew Magennis, leaving Barry Webb with no chance and ensuring St Malachy’s would lead by two points, 0-05-2-01.
Both sides then traded points with each-other as the game remained in the balance. Donal Curran pointed after a Webb mistake to put three between the sides, before a foul on substitute Liam McKenna gave Dugan the chance to convert a free, and that he did to cut the deficit to two points, 0-06-2-02.
Mid-way through the second period St Malachy’s found the net for the third time. Donal Curran was picked out in acres of space and the half forward drove towards goal before blasting high into the roof of the net past Webb to make it 0-06-3-02, De La Salle looked to be in disarray.
The Edenmore side needed a goal quickly if they were to find a way back into the game, but they had to settle for a point by Cailean Walsh after Ryan Rooney’s low effort was parried by the St Malachy’s goalkeeper. The Antrim Road side restored their five point lead with 10 minutes to go when Aran Murphy feed Conor McLaughlin, whose effort took a nick off the crossbar and went over to make it 0-07-3-03.
With five minutes remaining the gap still remained at five, though De La Salle went all out attack in order to find a way back into the contest. Substitute Liam McKenna beautifully curled the ball over the bar to reduce the deficit to four, and less than a minute later only a point separated the teams. De La Salle turned the ball over from Owen McCormack’s kick out and a well orchestrated move down the left was finished off by corner-forward Conor Nolan who rifled low into the net to make it 1-08-3-03.
De La Salle thought they had grabbed a second goal moments after, though St Malachy’s goalkeeper McCormack parried Aaron Doherty’s shot behind for a ‘45’. There was short delay in proceedings while injuries were attended to, but when play was resumed Sean O’Hanlon sent the ‘45’ into a crowded area where Conor Nolan punched the ball goal-wards and the St Malachy’s defender on the line failed to hold it with the umpires deciding to raise the green flag for a goal which turned the game on its head and made it 2-08-3-03 for De La Salle.
St Malachy’s pressed for a late winning goal of their own, but De La Salle defended resolutely and after five minutes of additional time Eddie Fitzsimmons final whistle was sparked by scenes of wild celebration from both players and supporters of the Edenmore School. All that was left was for Captain Kevin McCann to accept the first annual O’Hara Cup trophy from Down legend Sean O’Neill and the party could begin in Ernst for the hardworking group of players and mentors.
De La Salle team: B Webb, D Lindsay, P Dowling, J Smyth,N Crawford, S O’Hanlon, M McKenna, C Murray, F Dugan, M McCavanagh, C Walsh, A Doherty, K McCann, R Rooney, C Nolan. Subs: C McDonnell, L McKenna, C Davis, N Scott, C Chada, R Keenan, C McKenna, M McCashin, B McGarrigle, T Rogan, L Brady.
St Malachy’s team: 0 McCormack, A McLaughlin, D McCann, L de Brun, C Thompson, M McNamee, B O’Callaghan, M Magennis, E McGarry, N McKeown, D Curran, A Murphy, C McLaughlin, P Loughran, C Magennis. Subs: M Mullan, E Maguire,E Gibson, D Clarke, J Clifford, M Beysat, E Ewing, E O’Connor, P McElhatton. SLyttle, P Morrison.
The photos on the right hand side were taken by Scott Media, (Belfast)
