Coláiste Eoin 1-8, Gormanston 1-6:Coláiste Eoin survived a late second-half rally in yesterday's Leinster Colleges' A Football first-round clash with Franciscan College Gormanston played at Silver Park.
After Gormanston's Mark Morgan had opened the scoring for the visitors, Carl Mullen extended his team's lead when his shot from distance slipped out of the goalkeeper's grasp and into the back of the net.
Coláiste Eoin could have had a goal shortly afterwards with Barra Ó Ruaírc's shot just falling the wrong side of the goalkeeper's left-hand post.
But with Pól Shutte opening the Coláiste Eoin account midway through the half, the Stillorgan men came more into the game after that. And although Eoin Whyte restored the gap to four, Coláiste Eoin countered with a point from Lúc Céitinn and a well-struck 45 from Ciarán Gormlái. And then having gathered possession from a kick-out, Coláiste Eoin went in front when Shutte shot past the goalkeeper at the far post.
Gormanston full forward Barry Flanagan drew the sides level before the break and having traded two points apiece after the interval, the score had advanced to 1-5 to 1-5 midway through the half. Coláiste Eoin then began to pull away with three unanswered points from Ó Ruaírc, Marc Ó Cochláín and Shane Ó Riaín leaving a goal between the two teams with 10 minutes remaining.
Flanagan then put two between the sides with Coláiste Eoin goalkeeper Conchúr Ó Sluain pulling off a save in injury time to deny Declan Rooney.
COLÁISTE EOIN:C Ó Sluain; C McAdam, S Ó Giolláin, L Ó Cathasaigh; R Breathnach, C Gormlaí (0-1, one 45), E Ó Ciogáin; C de Bharnabáil, P MacGloinn; C Ó Clintiúin, M Ó Cochláin (0-1), S Ó Briaín (0-2); L Céitinn (0-1), B Ó Ruaírc (0-2), P Schutte (1-1). Subs: P O'Cuinnegán for O' Briaín 50 mins, C O' Seanáin for Ó Cochláin 58 mins.
FRANCISCAN COLLEGE:D O'Sullivan; C Lenehan, P Butterly, L O'Sullivan; M Eagleton, D Rooney, M Battersby; J Levins, D Ryan; S Rowley, C Mullen (1-0), M Morgan (0-1); E White (0-2), B Flanagan (0-3), S Dervan. Subs: P Tyrell for Mullen 38 mins, B Whyte for Rowley 40 mins, K Whyte for Morgan 52 mins, S Brennan for Dervan 55 mins.
Referee:G McCormack (Naomh Barróg).
• GALWAY CHAIRMAN:After a year in which disciplinary issues in Galway seemed to create more of a stir than action on the field, it should be no surprise that the GAA in the county have turned to a referee to be their new boss for 2007.
Gerry Larkin, who has been the referees' administrator in the county for the past few years, takes over from Frank Burke who has stepped down after 17 years as county board chairman.
Larkin's position was secured at the county board annual convention in Clarinbridge on Monday night when the other candidates, hurling board chairman Miko Ryan and football board vice-chairman John Joe Holleran withdrew from the race.
• OFFALY PANEL:The Offaly senior hurling management have jettisoned twelve members of this year's panel and included ten newcomers for the 2007 National League and Championship.
The 12 players dropped from the panel are Joe Brady, Damien Murray, Shane O'Connor, Niall Claffey, Stephen Browne, Simon Whelahan, Aidan Hanrahan, Declan Tanner, Peter Healion, Michael Cordial, Mick O'Hara and Paul Molloy. Brian Whelahan is not available.
The newcomers are Cathal Horan and Shane Dooley, both of whom are sons of former Offaly All-Ireland winning sides, together with Ray Murray, Trevor Corcoran, Michael Verney, Conor Hernon, Kevin Kelly, David Kenny, Alan Middleton and Derek Molloy.
• TYRONE ALL STARS:Peter Canavan has won an All Star award in his native county for the first time. Canavan, who played a starring role in Errigal Ciarán's SFC triumph this year, gets the full forward spot in the Tyrone All Stars team.
Honoured six times by the national All Stars selectors, he has until now failed to make the cut on the local scene.
The footballer of the year award went to Paul Quinn, while Davy Harte won the county player of the year title. Former Tyrone captain Seán Teague won personality of the year. He guided Greencastle to an Ulster JFC triumph earlier this month.
TYRONE ALLSTARS:John Devine (Errigal Ciarán); Cathal McCarron (Dromore), Cormac McGinley (Errigal Ciarán), Damian McCaul (Donaghmore); Ciarán McAleer (Carrickmore), Paul Quinn (Errigal Ciarán), Davy Harte (Errigal Ciaran); Mickey Garry (Dromore), Enda Clarke (Greencastle); Philip Toner (Coalisland), Kevin Hughes (Killeeshil), Gabriel McCallan (Carrickmore); Gareth Devlin (Stewartstown), Peter Canavan (Errigal Ciarán), Eoin McCusker (Dromore).
