St. Mark’s Lift O’Doherty Shield
St. Mark’s High School, Warrenpoint        1.12
Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon             1.09
 
St. Mark’s High School, Warrenpoint, made history on Friday morning as they claimed their second Ulster title in two years since joining Ulster Colleges’ competitions. Following on from the success of the U16 team last year, the U18 squad came out on top in their Ulster final to claim the O’Doherty Shield for the first time ever.
Played on a wet and windy morning in the Tyrone GAA Complex at Garvaghy, it was the Donegal men who started brightest with quick attacking football. They opened scoring with a point from a free. The swirling and changing wind was of little advantage to either team and St. Mark’s soon levelled up with a fine point from play for Aaron Magee. The Mourne men had a great chance to extend their lead with an effort that lobbed over the goalkeeper and hit the crossbar.
Ballyshannon were a more physical side than St. Mark’s and forced their way through midfield and into the heart of their defence. Their attacks were relentless and they were rewarded with a point from play before a crafty chip over the Warrenpoint goalkeeper Dean Toner found its way into the net and catapulted them into a four-point lead. The lead could have been extended had it not been for a strong and disciplined St. Mark’s defence that included Mark Doyle, Caolán Fitzpatrick and Chris Killen.
This purple patch for Ballyshannon came to an abrupt end, however, as St. Mark’s found their way back into the game. Three points on the trot from Tiarnán Rushe brought the Warrenpoint lads within a point before Aaron Magee levelled up with a fantastic point from play. As the half slipped into injury time, Ballyshannon seemed to have a lapse in concentration as their defence opened up and allowed Tiarnán Rushe to fire a rasping shot into the net.
HT: St. Mark’s Warrenpoint 1.05  Coláiste Cholmcille 1.02
Ballyshannon began the second half with gusto and hit two excellent points to cut the deficit to one. Again, the Warrenpoint defence, led by Shane Annett, Shay Fitzpatrick and John McKernan, was solid while Tiarnán Rushe was exceptional up front and hit another point from a free to keep the threat at bay. Ballyshannon fired over another free but it only served to reinvigorate St. Mark’s as they dominated the next ten minutes. Support play between Captain Jack Grant and Conor Lowry was superb and this engine drove the team on to hit four fantastic points from play to lead by six. These points came from the boots of Tiarnán Rushe (2), Paddy Smyth and Ciarán Tinnelly.
In fairness, Ballyshannon never gave up and always looked dangerous on the break. They clawed back two points from frees but St. Mark’s seemed to have plenty left in the tank to keep that at a distance. Conor Owens extended St. Mark’s lead before Ballyshannon hit another two points to leave just two points between the sides.
In the last minutes, however, Ballyshannon threw caution to the wind, committing more men forward, and almost hit Warrenpoint with a sucker punch. The Donegal men were lining up to get a shot at goal as St. Mark’s put their bodies on the line, literally. A save Dean Toner was followed by two block downs before Cathal Fegan made a last-gasp clearance off the line. This never-say-die attitude saved the day for the Mourne men! Warrenpoint then broke down the field as Aaron Magee fired over a point from play to leave a goal between the sides at the final whistle.
Well done to St. Mark’s Warrenpoint on this historic victory as they claim their first U18 title in Ulster Colleges’ football. A fantastic effort by the entire squad under the management of two superb coaches, Sean O’Hare and Sean Featherstone.
St. Mark’s: Dean Toner, Mark Doyle, Caolán Fitzpatrick, Chris Killen, Shane Annett, Shea Fitzpatrick, John McKernan, Conor Lowry, Jack Grant (Captain), Ciarán Tinnelly (0-01), Tiarnán Rushe (1-05), Cathal Fegan, Aaron Magee (0-04), Conor Owens (0-01) and Paddy Smyth (0-01). Subs: Thomas Travers (for Shane Annett),  Jamie O’Connor (for Paddy Smyth), Darragh Murdock, Ryan Caulfield, Shane O’Hare, Tomás Gordon, Darragh Connell, Joseph Murphy, Michael McKey, Michael McNally, Conaill Gallagher and Paddy Brannigan.
The St. Mark’s team dedicated this win to the memory of their two friends Eoin Farrell and James Miskelly who died tragically in September. Both were team mates of all these lads during their years at St. Mark’s High School. Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad.
