St Patrick's - 1-9 St Jarlath's 2-4:All-Ireland Colleges Football and Hurling finals: St Patrick's Maghera captured the All-Ireland colleges senior football A championship title for the first time since 1995, and their fourth Hogan Cup since their first final appearance, in 1980, when they staged a remarkable second-half recovery at Kingspan Breffni Park yesterday.
St Jarlath's, the defending champions, seemed to have the upper hand in the early stages and at half-time led by 1-3 to 0-4, right-corner forward Thomas Fitzgerald scoring the goal in the 27th minute following a free from team captain James Kavanagh.
They added 1-1 in six minutes at the start of the second half, Jason Donoghue scoring a point after 20 seconds and full forward Sean Armstrong a great individual goal in the sixth minute.
There seemed no way back for St Pat's, as they trailed by 2-4 to 0-4, but the game took a dramatic turn 11 minutes later when centrehalf back Gerrard O'Kane showed his forwards the path to goal and narrowed the St Jarlath's lead to three points.
The tide was turning towards the Ulster champions and in an action-packed last 20 minutes points from Brendan Mullan, Mark Lynch and left-half back Philip O'Connell brought St Pat's level with three minutes of normal time left.
St Patricks began to turn the screw and what proved to be the winning score came from Charlie Kielty 30 seconds later. Jonathan Nelson followed with another point and at that stage there was no way back for Jarlath's.
There were joyous scenes at the final whistle as Maghera's team captain, Gerrard O'Kane, received the Hogan Cup.
Former Ulster and Derry star Dermot McNicholl, who is coach to the Maghera side, said: "It was a tremendous game of football and was played in the right spirit by both teams, who were very committed.
"While we were doing well in the early stages we conceded a soft goal just before half-time, and were well in control except for that blip. However, our second-half performance was just awesome - every player lifted his game and we were worthy winners."
Those who made the biggest impact for St Patrick's included full back Joe Keenan and centrehalf back Gerrard O'Kane.
Left-half forward Mark Lynch, operating as a third midfielder, helped infuse new spirit into the attack in the second half.
ST PATRICK'S: E McNicholl; R Dillon, J Keenan, P Donnelly; G Scullion, G O'Kane(1-0), P O'Connell (0-1); J Bradley, L Hinphey; D O'Hagan, J Nelson (0-2), M Lynch (0-2); C Kielty (0-1), M McCann (0-1), B Mullan (0-2). Subs: M Friel for M McCann; M Drumm for D O'Hagan.
ST JARLATH'S: P Doherty; N Rattigan, G Aherne, M Flannery; R Finnegan, G Sice, C Blake; J Kavanagh, M Finneran; S McGuinness (0-1), A Kilcoyne, F Breathnach; T Fitzgerald (1-0), S Armstrong (1-2), J Donoghue (0-1). Sub: V Feeney for S McGuinness.
Referee: John Bannon (Longford)
There was consolation for Connacht when St Gerald's Castlebar won the All-Ireland B title, beating St Michael's Lurgan 1-12 to 1-10 after extra time at Kingspan Breffni Park yesterday.
The Armagh side led 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time, full foward Ryan Henderson getting the goal in the 24th minute, and stretched their lead five minutes into the second half through Declan Lavery.
However, St Gerald's scored 1-2 in five minutes to lead for the first time, Sean McHale getting the goal.
And though the Ulster champions went back in front with two minutes of normal time left, a Sean McHale equaliser forced the game into extra time, when a late point by Richard O'Boyle proved the final and clinching score.
SCORERS: St Gerald's - E Kiernan (0-3), T Canavan (0-1), N Lydon (0-1), R O'Boyle (0-6), S McHale (1-1). St Michael's - D McAlernon (0-1), C Kavanagh (0-2), D Lavery (0-1), C Lavery (0-1), R Henderson (1-5),
Referee: Paul Finnegan (Louth)
