Colaiste Iascaigh win first ever hurling trophy after final glory

MAYO Post Primary Senior Shield Final at crucial stages proved decisive against a youthful St Colman’s side that battled gamely throughout. The visiting school had a bright start with points from Thomas Cawley, Cahan Hallinan and Kenneth Mitchell. Some driving runs from midfielders Mark Gibbons and Tomas Keane got the hosts into the game, with free-taker Ronan Fallon clipping over a couple of points before the first of the game’s 12 goals arrived. It came on 16 minutes from

Colaiste Iascaigh corner-forward Ian Kilcullen, who made no mistake with a ground strike from close range, after he was picked out by Cawley.

St Colman’s response was impressive with scores from Keane and Fallon, who saw his dipping effort from a free drop under the crossbar to leave three points between the sides on 24 minutes. It would have been level but for two excellent saves from young Colaiste Iascaigh goalkeeper Adam Rolston, the second of which was a diving stop that denied Keane what looked a certain goal.

Boosted by this, full-forward Cawley turned on the style in the closing minutes of the half, netting three times in quick succession thanks to great play out the field from Harry O’Donnell, Conor Scott, Niall Kilcullen and Ryan Gillespie. This flurry of scores pushed the Sligo team into a 12-point half-time lead, 4-10 to 1-7, but facing in to a bright winter’s sun in the second period. St Colman’s took advantage of this to claim early second half goals from Keane and substitute Padraig McHugh, while Fallon remained a constant threat in the forwards. But Cawley killed hopes of a St Colman’s comeback by rattling home a 21-yard free midway through the half, and a couple of poacher finishes by youngster Michael McDonagh in the final quarter gave Colaiste

Iascaigh breathing space once again. Easkey’s Fionn Moylan and another St Colman’s substitute, Niall Hurley, added further goals in the closing minutes, before Colaiste Iascaigh joint-captain Niall Kilcullen was shown a red card in the last minute following a second bookable offence. With full-back Fearghal Curran controlling things in defence for Colaiste Iascaigh, Killcullen’s sending-off made no difference to the outcome, and the team secured a first ever hurling trophy for the Sligo school. COLAISTE Iascaigh: Adam Rolston; Niall Hallinan, Fearghal Curran, James Conway; Conor Scott, Niall Kilcullen (0-1), Stephen Conway; Cahan Hallinan (0-3), Harry O’Donnell; Ryan Gillespie (0-1), Fionn Moylan (1-3), Kenneth Mitchell (0-1); Thomas Cawley (4-5, 1-4f), James Golden, Ian Kilcullen (1-0). Subs: John Harte for J Conway; M McDonagh (2-0) for I Kilcullen, Patrick Walsh for Harte; James Conway for Stephen Conway.