St Colmcille's march to IFC triumph as Dunderry stumble

It's celebration time for St Colmcille's after they won the IFC final replay by defeating Dunderry by 1-12 to 1-6 at Pairc Tailteann today. 

This was the first time in 28 years they claimed the crown and by the end there were few quibbling about the final result. 

St Colmcille's were dominant for long spells of the second-half and there was always the sense that if needed they could find another gear. 

A day to forget for Dunderry ended when they had two players - Mark Kane and Liam Dempsey - sent off in the closing stages. 

This was also a memorable and poignant moment for former Munster player Niall Ronan with the St Colmcille's man dedicating the victory to the memory of the great Anthony Axel Foley. 

Both sides served up a rousing first-half when the play flowed from one end to the other and both sets of players went into the dressing room at the break with the appreciative cheers of supporters ringing in their ears. 

St Colmcilles's led 1-6 to 1-4 at the interval but it was Dunderry who scored the first of the game's two goals. 

It arrived on 19 minutes when Stephen Coogan lofted the ball into the square from close in. St Colmcille's were unable to clear and Luke Martyn swept the loose ball to the net with his hand. 

That put Dunderry 1-3 to 0-4 in front however shortly aferwards Colm Nally's side hit back with a Ben Brennan point.

Then on the 22nd minute mark it got better for St Colmcille's when the impressive David Sheeran passed to David O'Byrne who finished to the net from close range. It was a superb finish. 

That helped to edge St Colmcille's in front by 1-5 to 1-4 and that's where they stayed for the rest of the game. 

Seven St Colmcille's players got on the scoresheet including the six starting forwards with O'Byrne finishing up with 1-2 while Ben Brennan contributed four points, two from frees. 

Ciaran Kelly, Joe Sweeney, Jack Reynolds, Niall Ronan and James Conlon also pointed. 

Dunderry were aggrieved not to get a penalty in the opening half when Paddy Kennelly went down in the square but referee David Gough waved their protests away. 

Stephen Coogan was Dunderry's topscorer with four points while Conor Dempsey and Conor Farrell also registerd for them. 

However, they went a long spell in the second-half without troubling the scorekeeper as they struggled to get ball into their forwards. 

Dunderry also missed a number of good opportunities particularly from frees with Coogan and Kennelly shooting wide. 

Dunderry especially lost their way in the closing minutes when they had two their two players sent off as St Colmcille's marked their return to the senior ranks with considerable style. 

St Colmcille's - Jordan Brown; Adam Lynch, Jamie McDonnell, Ciaran Ward; Eoin Woods, Ian Mullen, Joe Sweeney (0-1); David Sheeran, Robbie McCloskey; Ciaran Kelly (0-1 free), Ben Brennan (0-4 two frees), David O'Byrne (1-2); Jack Reynolds (0-1), Niall Ronan (0-1), James Conlon (0-2). Subs - Danny McMahon for Mullen 37 mins, Conor O'Byrne for Reynolds 49m, Ruairi O'Grady for Kelly 54m, Sean Collier for Conlon 61m. Black card - Eoin Woods (replaced by John McKenna 58m). 

Dunderry - David Jennings; Aaron Newman, David McCormack, Conor Dempsey (0-1); Darren Callaghan, Damien Clarke, Jordan Martin; Patrick Kennelly, Liam Dempsey; Mark Kane, Luke Martyn (1-0), Stephen Coogan (0-4 one free); Alan Watters, Conor Farrell (0-1), Simon Carty. Subs - Colm Harte for Martin 51 mins. 

Referee - David Gough (Slane). 

In the MFC Div 4 final at Pairc Tailteann today Nobber/St Michael's defeated Kilbride, 3-11 to 2-9. 

Shane McDonnell scored 2-6 for the winners while Shane McCormack also found the net. Both the Kilbride goals were scored by Joseph Donnelly.