Holy Trinity battle back to clinch Corn Colmcille Cup

Holy Trinity Cookstown 3-13 Dean Maguirc College 3-6

THIS Danske Bank Ulster Schools Corn Colmcille final at Plunkett Park in Pomeroy on Monday afternoon lived up to expectations as a brilliant second half display saw Holy Trinity Cookstown get the better of Tyrone rivals Dean Maguirc Carrickmore.

At half-time though it was as different story with Dean Maguirc the better side and two goals giving them as healthy seven point cushion at the short whistle. Holy Trinity though were a transformed side after the break, especially in the third quarter when they took the game by the scruff of the neck as they turned a seven point deficit into a seven point victory to deservedly take the spoils.

The Dean enjoyed a dream start to the game with the opening score of the game proving to be a goal from full forward James Kerr with only five minutes gone on the clock. By the 10th minute they were five clear thanks to a brace from centre half forward PK Murphy before Finn Daly opened Holy Trinity’s account.

Ciaran McKeown then tagged on a brace of points for the Cookstown school with a Damhan Meenah effort for the Dean sandwiched in between. In the 19th minute Dean Maguirc got their second goal of the afternoon through full back James Conway and while Conan Doris responded for Holy Trinity it was Micheal McCrystal from a free who had the final say of the half for Dean Maguirc to enable them to lead 2-5 to 0-4.

Holy Trinity needed a good start to the second half but even they couldn’t have imagined how things would turn out as they held their opponents scoreless for twenty two minutes as they hit 2-6 themselves. Timmy Kelly set the ball rolling with a 32nd minute goal and after McKeown (2) and Daly had tagged on points a 40th minute goal from Ardboe’s McKeown put his side in front for the first time for an advantage that they were never to lose.

McKeown split the posts again with Kelly adding another brace as Holy Trinity completely dominated proceedings.

In the 52nd minute Dean Maguirc finally opened their second half account with a goal from Sean McGlinchey to give them a bity of hope of mounting a comeback. Holy Trinity though were in no mood to throw away a winning position as they landed another 1-3 without reply with Kelly getting a goal and a point and McKeown two points.

Murphy had the final say for Dean Maguirc but it was Holy Trinity’s day. After the game Liam Linden on behalf of the Ulster Schools presented the Cup to joint Captains Ciaran McKeown and Conan Woods.

Holy Trinity scorers: Ciaran McKeown 1-7, Timmy Kelly 2-3, Finn Daly 0-2, Conan Doris 0-1

Dean Maguirc scorers: PK Murphy 0-4, James Kerr 1-0, James Conway 1-0, Sean McGlinchey 1-0, Damhan Meeah 0-1, Micheal McCrystal 0-1