Danske Bank Nolan Cup final
Shimna Integrated College 3-11 St Patrick’s Lisburn 2-6
By Séamas McAleenan
WHAT a season it has turned out to be for Shimna Integrated.
At the turn of the year the school had never won an Ulster schools’ GAA title. Now they have three football cups in the trophy cabinet!
It all began in February when they took the Danske Bank Bearnageeha title. Last month they added Corn Uladh and then on Friday afternoon pas in Lisburn they overturned the local St Patrick’s school to win a maiden Nolan Cup.
The Down side had more of the play during the opening half of the game in Lisburn but found themselves behind at the break.
They had slowly built up a lead of 0-6 to 0-2 after 20 minutes, Callum Simmons and Shea McLaughlin each shooting two points and during that period Eoghan Dorrian in goals kept Lisburn in the game with a couple of smart saves.
However, the game then changed with goals from Chris McGarry and Aidan Kerr, putting St Patrick’s in control at the break, leading 2-4 to 0-8.
Shea McLaughlin had picked up a black card during that spell at the end of the first half. But when he returned early in the second half, Shimna took off with a goal from Cameron Eakins.
Conor O’Hare quickly added a second Shimna goal and then Eakins gave them a clear lead when he got in behind the Lisburn defence in the 48th minute to score the Newcastle side’s third goal.
That more or less settled the issue with McLaughlin, Riaghan O’Hare, Callum Simmons and Eakins always prominent for the winners.
Shimna: C Eakins 2-1, CO’Hare 1-2, C Simmons 0-4, S McLaughlin 0-3, D Russell 0-1.
St Patrick’s: A Kerr 1-1, C McGarry 1-0, D Campbell 0-2, C Morris, D Doherty and J Rafferty 0-1 each.
