Cross & Passion crowned All Ireland Colleges hurling champions once again

Cross and Passion College Ballycastle 1-15, Calasanctius College, Oranmore 1-14

FOR the fourth time in the North Antrim school's history and not since a decade ago, the Masita Paddy Buggy trophy is back in the 'Town.'

What a nail-biting affair for the big following who made the trip to Ballyshannon for the momentous occasion, a trip the players and their followers will never forget.

One point separated the sides at the end of the hour but, in truth, the score line flattered the Oranmore school, their goal coming with the last puck of the game.

It was an excellent second half from the Mageean Cup champions who held a slender one point lead at the interval but held the Galway school scoreless for the opening 16 minutes of the second half. In that same period they rattled over four points to open a five point gap that was effectively the winning of the game.

The fire power of the Ballycastle full forward line of Oisin McCallin, Roan McGarry and Cadhan Crawford - who shared a goal and eight points between them - was the difference in the sides, with the scoring ability of midfielder Roan Fitzgerald also an outstanding feature as eight players shared in their haul.

Calasanctius scoring was heavily reliant on the prodigious talents of Colm Burke. The midfielder finished with a dozen points, four of those coming from open play, and he was the constant threat that the North Antrim teenagers had to deal with.

He had little in the way of support, however, with only three other players getting on the score sheet including replacement de Paor who got the goal as the Oranmore school struggled against a strong Ballycastle defence.

Roan McGarry and Crawford top scored for the Convent, McGarry with four points while Crawford showed his predatory instincts with his side's goal in the eighth minute of the contest.

Man of the match came from further out the field, however. Conor Donnelly had an excellent game, more so in the second half while Roan Fitzgerald signed off his school hurling career with an outstanding display, but team captain Glackin took the accolade with a commanding performance that lead his side to All Ireland glory.

Both side showed signs of nerves in the opening exchanges before Colm Burke opened the scoring in the fourth minute. It would be the Galway school's last score for 12 minutes though as the Mageean champions settled into the final.

Points came from Niall McClean and McCallin, the latter with a superb score from wide on the left before Crawford claimed his goal. Roan McGarry’s effort for a point came back off the upright and with the Calasanctius defence on their heels, Crawford stole in behind to make the most of the dropping sliotar with the goal at his mercy.

Crawford then hit the next point of the game, capitalising on a poor puck out to fire over as Cross and Passion made the most of their purple patch.

The Galway school added to their opening score by points from Gus Lohan and Colm Burke before they were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute. Lohan, who caused problems in the Convent defence, evaded the challenge of ‘keeper Anthony Mullan. Reece Cunning looked to retrieve the situation with some excellent last gasp defending but was adjudged to have fouled Lohan.

It looked a harsh decision but it was given after consultation with his umpires and Cunning given a yellow card for his troubles. Colm Burke stood over the penalty but fired over the bar, a pivotal moment in this final with a rasping drive.

He then followed up with a couple more to tie the sides before Roan McGarry edged the Mageean champions ahead once again but a three points shared by Costello and Colm Burke gave Calasanctius a two point lead with three minutes of the half remaining.

This was the only really concerning time for the North Antrim lads who finished the half on top however.

Padraig Martin split the uprights before McCallin and Fitzgerald followed suit in the time that remained.
It could have been even better for but Conor Donnelly’s effort was cleared off the line by Thomas Blake but it was a deserving half time lead for the Ballycastle school.

The opening exchanges on the restart was the winning of this game. Scores came from Kinney, McCallin, with his third of the final, before a brilliant steal and score from Conor Donnelly. Roan McGarry then fired over their first from a free in the ninth minute as they built up a five point advantage.

As the second half progressed, indiscipline crept into Calasanctius play and Tiernan Grealish saw red for an off the ball incident with Martin leaving his school an uphill task with 18 minutes of the game remaining.

However, they would score the next two points of the game with Colm Burke adding to his tally from frees but the North Antrim college tasted victory and dug deep in the final quarter.

A couple from Fitzgerald and a Roan McGarry converted free in the space of six minutes came with a solitary pointed free from Colm Burke in response as heads began to drop. With two minutes of the final remaining, Roan McGarry split the uprights to put five between the sides once again and while this proved the champions last score of the final, it was enough.

The Oranmore school laid siege on the Ballycastle goal with Jake Keady’s rasping drive superbly saved by Anthony Mullan and while Colm Burke fired over his 12th point of the final at the end of the hour, time looked to be running out.

They did manage to score a goal with what was the last action of the final.

‘Keeper Harry Keady fired a ’65 to the edge of the square and while the 'castle defenders dealt with the initial danger, substitute Niall de Paor squeezed the sliotar over the line.

It was too little, too late for the Galway school, however, as the Cross and Passion heroes had done enough and were rightly crowned All-Ireland champions, an occasion that this squad of upcoming county players will never forget.

Defensively, Cross and Passion were excellent with Liam Glackin putting in a captain's performance at centre half back. He had plenty of support with Cian Baudant, Reece Cunning and Eunan Johnson all excelling while Darragh Kinney and Ronan ‘Rosey’ Fitzgerald combined superbly in midfield.

Up top, Oisin McCallin and Cadhan Crawford were always a threat and the Oranmore school did well to curtail their influence on the game, especially in the second half while Roan McGarry’s accuracy from placed ball was a major factor in deciding the outcome of this game.

Cross and Passion Ballycastle: Anthony Mullan; Darragh Kinney (0-1), Cian Baudant, Eunan Johnson; Reece Cunning, Liam Glackin, Ardan Kelly; Darragh Donnelly, Ronan Fitzgerald (0-3); Niall McClean (0-1), Conor Donnelly (0-1), Padraig Martin (0-1); Oisin McCallin (0-3), Roan McGarry (0-4), Cadhan Crawford (1-1).
Replacements: Conan Johnson for N McClean; Logan McConville for P Martin; Aidan Richmond for O McCallin (Inj).
Scorers: R McGarry 0-4 (3fs); C Crawford 1-1; O McCallin 0-3; R Fitzgerald 0-3; D Kinney 0-1; N McClean 0-1; C Donnelly 0-1; P Martin 0-1.

Calasanctus College Oranmore: Harry Keady; Sean Martyn, Thomas Blake, Alan Connaughton; Shay Rabbit, Fionn Fahy, Tiernan Grealish; Colm Burke (0-12) Eanna Costello (0-1); Matthew Furey, Jake Keady, Charlie Healy; Gus Lohan (0-1), Michael Leahy, Liam Burke.
Replacements: Stephen Ruane for M Furey; Darragh King for L Burke ; Niall de Paor()1-0) for S Rabbit
Scorers: C Burke 0-12 (7fs 1’65); N de Paor 1-00; E Costello 0-1; G Lohan 0-1.