St Mogue’s retain the Ward Cup
Danske Bank Ward Cup final
St Mogue’s College (Bawnboy) 5-6 Breifne College (Cavan) 2-10
From Damian Donohue in Kingspan Breffni Park
In very windy conditions the all Cavan Ward cup final between the 2019 winners St Mogue’s College and Breifni College Cavan on Kingspan Breffni. With schools on their last day before closing to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus the bus loads of supporters from both schools were in full voice.
St Mogue’s playing with the wind at their backs in the first half opened the scoring early through a Caoimhan McGovern free followed by a Peader Caffrey goal. The skilful Ryan McGoldrick sent over to leave Mogue’s 1-2 to no score ahead after nine minutes.
Against the odds Breifne college came back with a quick 1-1 from Ronan King and a Heaven Ike goal thanks to a super Fionan Brady pass over the top. Two points for the Bawnboy based side from Peader Caffrey and Philip McGoldrick either side of Nikodim McKiernan’s black card followed by a red because of an early yellow left them ahead by three with five minutes remaining in the half.
A slice of fortune helped Caoimhin McGovern as his point attempt from a free caught the Breifne defence sleeping resulting in a goal as it dropped under the bar. Two late points for the Cavan town college before the break left a very manageable lead of four to be clawed back for Breifne in a wind assisted second half.
Inside two minutes Breifne College had levelled with a Raymond King point and a Jack Dunne goal which appeared to be a point attempt dropping into the far top corner. Breifne looked the safer bet to push on at this junction as the posts waved in the wind behind Breifni but Mogue’s had other ideas.
After Colm O’Rourke and Philip McGoldrick exchanged points the latter punched to the net for Mogue’s. Breifne replied with two points from Dara Brady and Raymond King to leave the minimum between the sides as the final quarter began.
Breifne’s chance to finally take the lead fell to James Smith after he brilliantly robbed Nevin McBrien of the ball but his shot for goal was denied by the upright. McGovern made sure of his finish when given the chance at the other end on the 21st minute to open a lead of four.
The impressive Raymond King’s fourth point on the 25th minute for Breifne was countered by a knock-out punch two minutes later as Peader Caffrey finished soccer style to end the game as a contest as St Mogue’s experience of winning last year proved vital against the wind, an extra man and the odds in the second half.
Breifni college battled to the end with the final two points of the game from Raymond King and Patrick Breslin but it wasn’t enough to change the inevitable as Liam Bannon lifted the Ward Cup.
Scorers.
St Mogue’s: Caoimhan McGovern (2-1 frees), Peader Caffrey (2-1), Philip McGoldrick (1-2), Ryan McGoldrick (0-1).
Breifni College: Raymond King (0-5), Heaven Ike (1-0), Jack Dunne (1-0), Colm O’Rourke (0-2, 1f), Ronan King (0-1), Dara Brady (0-1), Patrick Breslin (0-1).
St Mogue’s: Nevin McBrien, Liam Bannon, Cormac Mimna, Colin Edwards, Dylan Bannon, James McGovern, Darragh King, Luke Donohoe, Conor Galligan, Peader Caffrey, Caoimhan McGovern, Philip McGoldrick, Ryan McGoldrick, Nikodim McKiernan, Eoghan Brady.
Panel: O Barnes, J McGowan, J Maguire, S McGovern, L Byrne, C Cassidy, P Lyons, C Hurley, N Henry, P Leech, S Lewis, M McNulty, S O’Reilly, J Fahy.
Breifne College (Cavan): Kalvin Smith Corby, Breen Smith, James Chaill, Mario Pandelev, Peter Lynch, Shea Smith, Cian Fitzgerald, Patrick Breslin, Dara Brady, Jack Dunne, Raymond King, Fionan Brady, Ronan King, James Smith, Colm O’Rourke. Subs: Heaven Ike for P Lynch (5).
Panel: C Flood, P Smith, E Gilaenan, H Crowley, G Tully, N Smith, K Dowd, C Curran, W Troy
