Columba's upset the odds to knock out champions

15.08.10 | SFC Play Off | St. Columba's 1-11 Clonguish 0-11 | By Deniese O'Flaherty

St. Columba's ensured there would be a different name on the Connolly Cup this September when they knocked reigning champions Clonguish out of this year's championship with a stunning performance on Sunday afternoon last.

When the sides met last week in their final group game Clonguish won by six points, but because the sides finished their respective campaigns with the same score difference, a play-off was required.

What a difference a week makes. St. Columba's felt after the first game that they did not give a good account of themselves, but on Sunday they put in one of the performances of the championship and thoroughly deserved their win.

It was very much a team effort and one they can be immensely proud of. On a day where there were many heroes, the Mulligan brothers, Kevin and Shane, JJ Matthews and Conan Brady all stood out in this memorable win.

A special mention has to be given to manager Joe Mulvihill who has turned Columba's from pretenders to contenders. They have a tricky quarter-final clash with Longford Slashers next weekend but if they can repeat recent performances they have every chance of causing another upset.

Clonguish were simply second best and the players they had depended on in recent years to pull them through just couldn't replicate that form.

Credit must be given to both sides for producing some great football, in a match played in the sweltering heat.

Following an evenly contested first half, there was very little between the two sides. Clonguish started well and tapped over two fine points inside the first three minutes; Collie Clarke opened the scoring and that was followed by a cracking point from Paul Barden after some good play from Paddy Dowd.

Columba's were back on level terms five minutes later when Gary Rogers and Kevin Mulligan pointed over. They then took the lead two minutes later with a fine score from Mulligan. Clonguish though responded with a '45 from Dowd and another Clarke point to regain the lead.

A fantastic individual score from Columba's captain Shane Mulligan tied the game in the 16th minute before they edged in front again with a free from Donal McElligott, after Padraig Cooney brought down Gary Rogers.

That lead didn't last too long and it was all square again in the 23rd minute when Clonguish midfielder David Faughnan got his name on the scoresheet. But Columba's hit back with another great score from the boot of Kevin Mulligan; the county star was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Clonguish defence.

McElligott fired over his second free of the game four minutes before half-time to put Columba's ahead by two but Paul Barden reduced that gap to just one point two minutes later with another well worked score.

Columba's thought they had registered their eighth point of the game in the 29th minute but McElligott's free was signalled wide when it appeared to go between the two posts.

He did get the last score of the half minutes later when he pointed over another free to give his side a two point advantage going in at the interval.

Another decision went against Columba's in the first minute of the second half; James McGivney looked to have been pulled down in the area when through on goals, but amazingly referee Aiden Dowler didn't award a penalty.

Five minutes later they extended their lead to five points when they got the only goal of the game; McElligott's free from the right wasn't cleared properly by the Clonguish defence and the loose ball fell to Kevin Mulligan who made no mistake.

It got even better for the Mullinalaghta men two minutes later when McElligott got his fourth point of the game after a well worked move involving McGivney and Mulligan.

Clonguish knew they were in big trouble and uncharacteristically started to panic, kicking four bad wides in quick succession. Columba's on the other hand were growing in confidence and JJ Matthews hit over their second point of the second half in the 43rd minute.

Ciaran Williams brought a great save out of Columba's netminder Patrick Rogers as they went in search of a goal that would bring them back into the game. They then hit a purple patch and points from Paul Barden, Joe O'Brien and Paddy Dowd (two frees and '45) left just two between the sides with five minutes to play.

In between those scores David Barden had a glorious goal opportunity but he somehow fell over Rogers as he attempted to take a shot. McGivney also brought a good save out of Clonguish netminder Stephen Watters

It was a tense final few minutes as both sides went in search of scores. The final score of the game came from the boot of McGivney right at the very end to give his side a three point winning margin.

St. Columba's: Patrick Rogers; Bernard Donohue, Seamus Corcoran, Patrick Fox; Conan Brady, Shane Mulligan (0-1), Francis Mulligan; Ruairi McElligott, David Donohue; JJ Matthews (0-1), Donal McElligott (0-4,3f), Kevin Mulligan (1-3); Gary Rogers (0-1), Conor McElligott, James McGivney (0-1).

Sub: John Keegan for Donohue 52mins

Clonguish: Stephen Watters; Anthony Watters, Brendan Burke, Anthony Corcoran; Padraig Cooney, Enda Williams, Brendan Devine; David Barden, David Faughnan (0-1); Joe O'Brien, Paul Barden (0-4), Stephen Norton; Collie Clarke (0-2), Paddy Dowd (0-4,2 '45, 2f), Ciaran Williams.

Subs: Kevin Burke for Norton 34mins; Neil Casey for Clarke 38mins; Derek Duggan for O'Brien 56mins.

Referee: Aiden Dowler (Moydow Harpers).

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