Cross & Passion College's Liam Glackin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Masita All-Ireland Post Primary All Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling 'B' Final
Cross & Passion College 1-15 Calasanctius Oranmore 1-14
By Billy Coss at Ballyshannon
Cross & Passion College, Ballycastle made it back-to-back Paddy Buggy Cups for Antrim as they survived a late rally from Calasanctius Oranmore in this afternoon’s Masita All-Ireland Senior B hurling final at Fr. Tierney Park, Ballyshannon.
Cadhan Crawford’s eighth minute goal was the cornerstone of a 1-7 to 0-9 interval lead for the winners before four unanswered points and the 42nd minute dismissal of Calasanctius defender Tiernan Grealish inflated their lead to five points and further strengthened their position at the three-quarter mark.
Inspired by centre-forward Colm Burke, who finished with a dozen points, the Oranmore students clawed their way back into contention. However, their chances of a first-ever All-Ireland title receded when Jake Keady’s close-range strike was saved superbly by Ballycastle netminder Anthony Mullan late on.
And though they would eventually find the Cross & Passion net in the fourth added minute through sub Niall de Paor, Louth referee Kevin Brady’s final whistle soon followed to trigger joyous scenes for the north Antrim school.
It was a sweet victory the Ballycastle students. St. Killian’s, Garron Tower defeated them in the final of last season’s Mageean Cup - Ulster’s top-level A competition - before going on to add All-Ireland B honours.
Backboned by players from the strongholds of Loughgiel Shamrocks, Dunloy Cuchullains and McQuillans Ballycastle, Cross & Passion had their revenge on Killian’s in December's provincial decider before replicating their rivals’ success on the national stage by impressively defeating Clonmel CBS High School and Calasanctius at the business end.
Joe Cassidy’s side had the better of the opening quarter, answering the first of Colm Burke’s points for Calasanctius with 1-3 without answer. Crawford showed a poacher’s instinct to pounce for their all-important goal after an Oisín McCallin effort struck the upright.
Calasanctius soon settled and would rattle off eight of the next nine points to edge in front. Burke accounted for six of them, including a 15th minute penalty won by Michael Leahy that was blazed over. Captain Éanna Costello and Gus Lohan were also on target for the Connacht champions.
Crucially, Cross & Passion would close the half in the ascendancy with scores from Padraig Martin, the excellent Ronan Fitzgerald and McCallin to take a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 advantage at the break.
They would account for the opening four scores on the resumption too with Darragh Kinney, McCallin, Conor Donnelly and Roan McGarry helping to open a 1-11 to 0-9 lead.
Calasanctius were struggling for momentum and scores and also suffered a major setback when reduced to 14 men when losing wing-back Tiernan Grealish to a red card.
The point-taking of Colm Burke from frees and play gave the Galway school hope. But with McGarry and Fitzgerald keeping their tally ticking over, and both Cian Baudant and captain Liam Glackin outstanding in defence, Cross & Passion carried a four-point lead into added time.
Then came Jake Keady’s rasping shot, Anthony Mullan’s crucial save, and Niall de Paor last gasp goal for Calasanctius.
It wasn’t enough however as the Ballycastle school bridged a 10-year gap to their last All-Ireland Senior B title.
Scorers for Cross & Passion College, Ballycastle: Cadhan Crawford 1-1; Roan McGarry 0-4 (3fs), Ronan Fitzgerald and Oisín McCallin 0-3 each; Niall McClean, Padraig Martin, Conor Donnelly and Darragh Kinney 0-1 each.
Scorers for Calasanctius College, Oranmore: Colm Burke 0-12 (7fs, 1 65, 1 pen), Niall de Paor 1-0, Gus Lohan and Éanna Costello 0-1 each.
CROSS & PASSION COLLEGE, BALLYCASTLE: Anthony Mullan; Eunan Johnson, Cian Baudant, Reece Cunning; Darragh Donnelly, Liam Glackin (captain), Ardan Kelly; Darragh Kinney, Ronan Fitzgerald; Niall McLean, Conor Donnelly, Padraig Martin; Oisín McCallin, Roan McGarry, Cadhan Crawford. Subs: Conan Johnson for McClean (52), Logan McConville for Martin (60)
CALASANCTIUS COLLEGE, ORANMORE: Harry Keady; Sean Martyn, Thomas Blake, Alan Connaughton; Shay Rabbitt, Fionn Fahy, Tiernan Grealish; Éanna Costello (captain), Charlie Healy; Matthew Furey, Colm Burke, Jake Keady; Gus Lohan, Michael Leahy, Liam Burke.
Subs: Stephen Ruane for Furey (47), Darragh King for Liam Burke (52), Niall de Paor for Rabbitt (53).
Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth).
