Loughrey snatches All-Ireland from Coláiste Ailigh
March 25, 2018
Masita Br Edmund Ignatius Rice Cup All-Ireland football final
Coláiste Ailigh Letterkenny 2-14 St Cuan’s Castleblakney 4-9
THIS Masita Br Edmund Ignatius Rice Cup All-Ireland football final in Collooney on Saturday had everything and a little extra as the footballers of Coláiste Ailigh Letterkenny saw an All-Ireland title snatched from under their noses by two injury-time points from Odhrán Loughrey.
The Danske Bank O’Doherty Cup champions had lived on the edge in the previous two outings and it certainly looked as if they had fashioned yet another last gasp victory when Seán Mac an Ultaigh goaled in the last minute of normal time.
However a little indiscipline had crept into their play during this game. Full-back Ross Marley picked up a second yellow nine minutes from the end and then Seán Ó Braoin also had a second yellow a few minutes later. And in injury-time they conceded a couple of late frees that Odhrán Loughrey converted for victory for the Galway school.
Coláiste Ailigh trailed by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break, but the superb Eoin Mac Gaoithín edged them ahead with two pointed frees early in the second half.
However Owen Naughton fired home for St Cuan’s in the 39th minute and a few minutes later Josh Pond stopped an effort from Darragh Glynn, but substitute Enda Kenny followed through to force the ball over the line to put six points between the teams.
And things got worse for the Donegal side when Loughrey boxed the ball to the net shortly after Marley saw red.
But suddenly the tide began to turn with Eoin Mac Gaoithín and Mac an Ultaigh scoring points and then Mac Gaoithín fired to the net. The same player added a point from a placed ball and the game was down to just two points, 1-14 to 4-7.
Excitement was at fever pitch when the 13 men of Letterkenny created the goal chance for Mac an Ultaigh to put them a point ahead with injury-time to play.
However Loughrey took advantage of two frees awarded to end a fantastic run for the Gaelcholáiste since the turn of the year.
Coláiste Ailigh : Eoin Mac Gaoithin 1-8, 0-7 frees, Seán Mac An Ultaigh 1-1, Seán Ó Braoin 0-2, Rónán Mac Gaoithin 0-1, Dónal Ó hUiginn 0-1, Oisín Mac Gairbheith 0-1
St Cuan’s : Odhrán Loughrey 1-4, 0-3 frees, Owen Naughton 1-0, Ross Hannon 1-0, Enda Kenny 1-0, Darragh Glynn 0-5 frees
