Excellent Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin ease into Ulster JFC decider 

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin are into the Ulster Junior Football final after a comprehensive seven-point win over Collegeland O’Rahilly’s in Healy Park on Saturday. 

The Donegal champions will now take on Craigbane St Joseph’s in the decider after the Derry outfit overcame Drumhowan of Monaghan, after extra-time and penalties, in the afternoon’s other semi-final. 

Naomh Padraig, as expected, were forced to line out without their two most influential operators in Caolan McColgan and Kevin Lynch. 

However, it soon became apparent that they had an obvious upper hand on their Armagh counterparts. 

Daniel McCauley’s side kicked the first six points of the contest as they eased out of the blocks in impressive fashion. 

Collegeland O’Rahilly’s didn’t make any meaningful inroads until the 26th minute. And by the midpoint, Naomh Padraig exited 0-6 to 0-1 clear. 

Jonathan Toye again led the way from centre half-back in that dominant first 30 minutes and it was he who grabbed the first score of the game just 30 seconds in. 

Cormac McColgan doubled his side’s lead soon after before Toyle - with his second - made it a three-point game. 

Oisin McIntyre and Rory Hirrell pushed the gap out to five moving into the second quarter as the Inishowen outfit threatened to run away with matters. 

Indeed, had Niall Bradley not got down well to deny Naomh Padraig midfielder Eunan Mullan on 19 minutes the game could well have been done and dusted there and then. 

The final ten minutes of the first period seen a drop in tempo with Kevin Doherty, from a free, and Collegeland’s Bartley Finnegan snatching his side’s first, the only meaningful action between then and the short whistle. 

Ronan Hoy and Doherty were on the mark quickly on the resumption as the difference stretched to seven. 

Caolan McQuid did manage to nab a second Collegeland point on 36 minutes however once Drew McKinney slapped home Toye’s scuffed free from distance, an unassailable gap of nine opened up as the scoreboard read 1-8 to 0-2, 41 minutes in. 

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Collegeland laboured towards a third point through Jason Kelly before McKinney was denied a second three-pointer by Bradley in the Collegeland goal. 

Moving into the last quarter Cormac McColgan launched over a brilliant point from the wide left but a Caolan McQuade goal for Collegeland pulled the deficit back to six at 1-9 to 1-3. 

Still, a Hirrell brace again eased Naomh Padraig eight clear and while a late Jason Kelly free was the final act of the contest, it mattered little as the Donegal outfit progressed. 

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin scorers: Drew McKinney 1-0; Jonathan Toye 0-2; Rory Hirrell 0-3; Kevin Doherty 0-2,1f; Cormac McColgan 0-2; Oisin McIntyre 0-1; Ronan Hoy 0-1.

Collegeland O’Rehilly’s scorers: Caolan McQuad 1-1; Bartley Finnegan 0-1; Caolan McQuade 0-1; Jason Kelly 0-1,1f. 

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin: Oran McCauley; Cormac Kelly, Caolan Harkin, Darragh McIntyre; Michael McCarron, Jonathan Toye, Jason McCallion; Eunan Mullan, Cormac McColgan; Oisin McIntyre, Kevin Doherty, Rory Hirrell; Joseph McCauley, Ronan Hoy, Drew McKinney. 

Subs: Caolan McColgan for K Doherty (36), Cathal McColgan for Hoy (53), Andrew McCarron for O McIntyre (58), Dermot Keaveney for Hirrell (60). 

Collegeland O’Rahilly’s: Niall Brady; Jamie Mackle, Ruairi McGeary, Conor Donnelly; Ryan Fields, Tom Murphy, Nathan McPartland; James Kelly, Cathair McGeary; Stefan McKenna, Paraic McGeary, Bartley Finnegan; Caolan McQuade, Adrian Trainor, Jason Kelly. 

Subs: Oliver Murphy for McGeary and Shane Donnelly for Finnegan (both 41), Ciaran Mallon for McPartland (29), Matthew Conroy for Trainor (55); Martin Kelly for Fields (58). 

Referee: Barry McMenamin (Cavan).