Dominican win first provincial title

Danske Bank JJ Reilly Cup final
Dominican Portstewart 2-9 St John’s Dromore 2-6
DOMINICAN Portstewart picked up their first Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ title yesterday with a narrow victory over St John’s Dromore in a very tight encounter at MUSA Cookstown.
Two pressure frees from Lorcan McMullan secured the win for the north coast school and Kacper Sobera, Chad O’Neill and Logan Johnson turned in good shifts.
However St John’s goalie Paudie Tunney was the Player of the Match with good support from his half-back line and David Love at midfield, although it wasn’t until the introduction of sub Simon Garrity that they looked really threatening up front.
The strong diagonal wind made it difficult for both teams and indeed both probably played their best football against the breeze.
Dominican had the wind advantage in the opening half and started well with two quick points from Adam Kosinski and Alan Thompson. But while Portstewart dominated possession St John’s defended well and looked dangerous on the counter attack.
In the 20th minute Paudie Tunney brilliantly save a Portstewart penalty but Lorcan McMullen followed through to hit the back of the net and Lewis Hawthorne quickly added a point.
However St John’s struck before the break with a Gary Hunter goal and looked good with just a deficit of 1-4 to 1-2 on the changeover.
But Dominican once more started the half strongly with points from Thompson and McMullen. The introduction of Garrity boosted St John’s and his direct running seemed to panic the leaders. He pointed almost immediately and Phelim Gallagher added another before the key moment arrived.
Alan Thompson, following a good run through the centre, fed Kacper Sobera who unleashed a rocket to the roof of the net giving Dominican a five point lead.
St John’s hit back with a goal from Garrity and points from Rory Burns and Patryk Mitoraj to level the scores with ten minutes remaining. However Lorcan McMullen kept his cool to land two frees followed by a point from play for Bart Drozd.
Dominican: R Taggart, L Johnson, C O’Neill, D Liken, J Wallace, F Rygielski, D Ryzcko, L McMullen capt 1-4, 0-2 frees, A Thompson 0-2, J Lucas, C McLaughlin, B Drozd 0-1, K Sobera, L Hawthorne 0-1, A Kosinski 0-1
St John’s : P Tunney, S McWilliams, R McGovern, P Williams, D Monaghan, O O’Brien, C Colton, D Love, P Gallagher 0-1, T McCusker, P Mitoraj 0-1, A Lawlor, G Hunter 1-0, R Burns 0-3, 0-2 frees, C McCanney
Subs : S Garrity 1-1 for T McCusker.