U16 Arthurs Cup final: Colaiste na Carraige 2-11 Breifne College, Cavan 1-8
THE first cup is the sweetest. And that was certainly true for those feisty boys from Carrick as they took their first ever Arthurs Cup title in splendid style at Omagh on Tuesday.
This thoroughly deserved victory went a long way to making up for the heartache of extra-time defeat to St Mary’s, Clady while the teams of 2013 and 2010 went down to St Mark’s, Warrenpoint and Holy Trinity of Cookstown.
Colaiste na Carraige also showed, yet again, that quality and breeding is worth a ton of feeding as they only select from two clubs - Naomh Columba and Kilcar in south-west Donegal.
In contrast, their Cavan opponents picked from a staggering 11 clubs, but were never able to match the dashing Carrick lads, who had an ideal start. Paddy Boyle’s boys raced into an early 1-4 to 0-0 lead after only 12 minutes.
And Lanty Molloy, who has the gait and hairstyle of a young Paidi O Se was an early driving force. It was Molloy who made a searing run deep into the Breifne defence and set up David Love, who got the vital touch to steer the ball over the Breifne line. Meanwhile, centre-back Aaron Doherty chipped in with two pointed frees, with Molloy and the hard-working Brian O’Donnell also adding points.
Breifne, who are managed by Seanie Johnston and John Gilsenan, hit back with three points of their own in the run up to half-time. And they were unlucky not to find the net in the 26th minute, a screaming shot from Callum Lynch hit the bottom of the post with Carrick 'keeper Colm Garvey beaten. Further points from Doherty and O’Donnell pushed Carrick into a 1-6 to 0-3 interval lead.
Exchanges were even in the early part of the second-half, with Molly and Doherty on target for Carrick and Breifne replying through Sean Martin and Dylan McMullan. Carrick led by 1-8 to 0-5 with 10 minutes to go and full-forward Love grabbed his second goal to really seal matters in the 58th minute. Breifne replied with a late penalty converted by Cormac Wall, but matters were settled by this juncture.
This was a thoroughly deserved victory for Carrick, who have one of the smallest picks in Ulster with less than 100 boys at their school. But this is the same school that also produced the likes of John Joe Doherty, Noel Hegarty, Martin McHugh and James McHugh.
And Lanty Molloy is a nephew of Anthony Molloy, who captained Donegal to their first All-Ireland victory in 1992. So the bonfires would be burning brightly in south-west Donegal on Wednesday night, an area that is seen as the spiritual home of the GAA in Tir Chonaill.
Delighted Carrick team boss Paddy Boyle said it was a wonderful victory for the school: “They have tasted so much heartache, but they have character and class in buckets.
“These lads are also unbelievably hard-working and they certainly deserved this historic victory today."
MATCH STATS
Coláiste na Carraige: C Garvey; J Burns, F Gallagher, G Moore; K Doogan, A Doherty (0-6, 0-4 frees), C Ó Leime; B O’Donnell (0-2), O Doogan; G Molloy, L Molloy (0-2), M Lyons; T McGinley (0-1), D Love (2-0), R O’Donnell; Subs: O Byrne for M Lyons (44), D Kelly for Love (58).
Breifne College, Cavan: M Morgan; M O’Dea, B Foley, J Cooney; J McGovern, R Coyle (0-1 free), D Molloy (0-2); D Cusack, L Molloy; T Lynch, C Wall (1-2, 1-0 pen), C Smith; D McMullan (0-1), C Lynch, S Martin (0-2, 0-1 free); Subs: T Lynch for Smith (38), M Brady for Moore (47).
Referee: S McNamee (Tyrone).
