St Ciaran’s defeated in Treanor Cup Final

St.Mark’s Warrenpoint 3-9    St.Ciaran’s Ballygawley 0-5

ST CIARAN’S Ballygawley will be disappointed that they didn’t play the football that they are capable off after being well beaten in the Ulster Schools Treanor Cup Final by St.Mark’s Warrenpoint at Armagh Harps on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite the margin of defeat it was a game that St.Ciaran’s left a number of scoring chances behind them that would have left things a lot closer.

The Down lads had the elements in their favour in the first half and they were in a strong position by the short whistle wit a nine point lead. It was a first half that the winners took any opportunities that came their way while St.Ciaran’s were left to reflect on six or seven scoring chances that they failed to take.

After that they were always chasing the game with St.Mark’s getting enough scores to comfortably keep them at arms length.

On the day St.Ciaran’s failed to register from play with all five of their points coming from frees from the boot of corner forward Gormley with Lorcan Murray, Niall McKenna, Michael McDonald and Elliot Kerr others to play well for the Tyrone school.

Sam Murdock opened the scoring for St.Mark’s from a third minute free before Gavin Barry doubled their advantage.

By the eighth minute the winners were three points to the good after Murdock found the range again this time from play. St.Ciaran’s were having their fair share of possession but they just couldn’t get that score that would have settled them and as the half work on their opponents grew in stature.

In the 17th minute Warrenpoint scored their first goal of the afternoon when a powerful run from Barry saw him burst through before finishing in style past St.Ciaran’s keeper Ronan Donnelly. John Joe O’Hare and midfielder Dylan Kelly, who was strong and athletic, both pointed to leave it 1-5 to 0-0 and St.Ciaran’s were in trouble.

In the 25th minute they finally opened their account from a Gormley free with the same player then repeating the dose. Disaster then struck when a high delivery in from left half back Jamie Haughey sailed all the way to the Ballgawley net.

St.Ciaran’s now had it all to do but it could have been worse but for a brilliant double save from Donnelly to deny Kelly and then Murdock from the follow up.

Trailing 2-5 to 0-2 at the break a good start to the second half was imperative for St.Ciaran’s but they hit three wides inside the opening five minutes. St.Mark’s on the other hand went down the field to fire over further scores from Kelly, Haughey and O’Hare and at that stage there was no way back for St.Ciaran’s.

To their credit though they battled away with a trio of frees from Gormley a goo response. They failed to score in the final ten minutes though as St.Mark’s struck for their third goal.

It was a tidy finish from Paudie Fitzpatrick but he blotted his copybook somewhat when getting sent off after getting involved with a St.Ciaran’s player when celebrating.

O’Hare had the final say from a placed ball on a day when Warrenpoint were deserving winners against a St.Ciaran’s side who just never got going.

St.Mark’s scorers: Gavin Barry 1-1, Jamie Haughey 1-1, John Joe O’Hare 0-3 (1F), Paudie Fitzpatrick 1-0, Sam Murdock 0-2 (1F), Dylan Kelly 0-2

St.Ciaran’s scorer: Daniel Gormley 0-5 (5F)