Naomh Padraig turn on the style in Junior A Championship opener against Urris

Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin got their Junior A Football Championship campaign off to a flying start with a big win over Urris in Ture.

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin 4-10 Urris 2-3

Thirteen points separated the sides at the finish with Naomh Padraig the resounding winners over their Inishowen rivals in a one-sided championship opener, all without their talisman Caolan McColgan, who has hamstring injury since the Division 3 play-off win over Burt.

Rory Hirrell, Jonny Toye, Ronan Hoy and Evan Craig scored the goals for the locals, who led by 1-6 to 0-2 at half-time after dominating an opening half, which was played in a downpour. Hirrell, who was busy from the off, got on the end of a sweeping move to crack home the game’s opening goal nine minutes into the game.

Dermot Keaveney, Jason McCallon, Cormac McColgan, Kevin Lynch and Drew McKinney all got their names on the first half scoresheet.

Conor Bradley, with a close-in free 26 minutes into the contest, and Gavin McDaid raised the first half white flags for Urris.
Cormac McColgan and Drew McKinney with Rory Hirrell not far behind were the outstanding players in the opening half hour.
And McColgan and McKinney, who played his first full 60 minutes in 12 months, continued to lead the pack in the second half.
McColgan ended the game with four points and McKinney two.

Toye’s goal on 43 minutes extended Naomh Padraig lead out to 11 points, 2-7 to 0-2, before Gavin McDaid landed his second point and Urris’ third point.

And when minutes after Oisin Harkin struck for the first of his two second half goals, the Naomh Padraig lead was back to seven points, with a quarter of an hour to play.

But as the blues skies appeared over Ture, goals from subs Ronan Hoy and Evan Craig before Harkin struck for goal number two and late consolation strike for Urris.

Naomh Padraig scorers: Cormac McColgan 0-4; Jonathan Toye 1-1, Rory Hirrell, Ronan Hoy, Evan Craig 1-0 each; Drew McKinney 0-2, Dermot Keaveney, Jason McCallion, Kevin Lynch 0-1 each.
Urris scorers: Oisin Harkin 2-0, 1 pen, Gavin McDaid 0-2, Conor Bradley 0-1, 1f; Tiernan McDonald 0-1 each.

Naomh Padraig: Oran McCauley; Oisin McIntyre, Darragh McIntyre, Cormac Kelly; Michael McCarron, Drew McKinney, Jason McColgan; Cathal McColgan, Cormac McColgan; Rory Hirrell, Dermot Keavney, Kevin Doherty; Jonathan Toye, Kevin Lynch, Josephy McCauley. Subs:Ronan Hoy for Cathal McColgan (39), Evan Craig for D Keaveney (45), Lee Barr for R Hirrell (48).
Urris: Johnny Noone; Benny Doherty, Luke Devlin, Mickey Grant; Ryan Doherty, Mattie Brennan, Dean Harkin; Gareth Bradley, Gavin Harkin; Luke Dohetry, Ryan Doherty, Shane McDaid; Luke Mullins, Oisin Harkin, Conor Bradley. Subs: Peter Doherty for L Devlin (47); Tiernan McDonald, Kieran Kelly, Jonathan McDaid for R Doherty, G McDaid, D Harkin (56).
Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan).