Nathy's and Colman's play out a thrilling colleges game

MAYO POST PRIMARY FLANAGAN CUP A CHAMPIONSHIP

St Colman's Claremorris 2-16

St Nathy's Ballaghaderreen 3-9

In Ballaghaderreen

IN the land where St Nathy's once kicked points for fun, the home side threw everything at St Colman's this afternoon. When the final whistle sounded the guests were deservedly four points clear, but they had been pushed all the way by a tenacious and talented home side.

Nathy's came into the game in high spirits after defeating Summerhill the previous week, but Colman's were in no mood to be beaten. The Claremorris students played fine football at times and are gathering pace with every passing game. The boys in red led 2-6 to 1-3 at half-time after goals from their lethal inside-forwards Jack Comer and Evan Heneghan. 

The deadly duo kicked 2-5 between them in the opening 30 minutes, with Dylan Burke adding a point. 

At the other end, goalkeeper David Walsh was in fine form and pulled off a great save to deny Roscommon inter-county attacker Dean Casey a goal after 28 minutes.

Nathy's had started well with a goal from Ryan O'Sullivan, but the Colman's defenders tackled like demons after that with centre-half-back Mark Noonan leading them impressively.

The home side began the second half on the front foot with Aaron Duffy picking out Casey in dangerous positions on two occasions but one effort flew inches over the crossbar and the other was brilliantly saved by Walsh.

At the other end, Comer and David Lally kept the umpires busy but a Nathy's goal at the end of the third quarter put the cat among the pigeons.

Oran Frain and O'Sullivan worked the ball forward and when Casey sent a screamer to the roof of the net the gap was back to four, 2-6 to 2-10.

However, Colman's never panicked. Comer, Dara Flanagan, Cathal Tierney, Heneghan and Jake Mullin all pointed and they seemed to be out of sight, but Nathy's had other ideas. They swarmed up the pitch, driven by impressive Mayo inter-county defender Declan Duffy. 

Casey kicked a point before Conor Moriarty took centre-stage. He landed a two-pointer from out the country and as time ticked away his long delivery went through a sea of bodies in the goalmouth and ended up in the net. That closed the gap to three and there was a sense that Nathy's might get something out of the game, but Colman's refused to lose their composure and when Flanagan put them four clear they had another win under the belt.

A full report will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.