The Under 16 Boys’ Football team were crowned Ulster Colleges’ Champions after a thrilling BT Herald Cup final at Saval, Conty Down last Saturday.

Séamus McAleenan, from Ulster Colleges’ GAA reported from the match.

St Paul’s Bessbrook     2-9       Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock           1-10

St Paul’s Bessbrook collected their first every Ulster Colleges’ trophy when they lifted the BT Herald Cup in Saval yesterday morning with a Conor Sloan penalty in the 22nd minute proving to be the decisive score.

The victorious Under 16 Team, St Paul's High School Bessbrook

That goal gave them the confidence to take charge of the game and by the three-quarter stage they looked to be coasting with a 9 points advantage, having held Knock scoreless in the third quarter.

Indeed Knock goalie Conor McManus was insturmental in keeping his side in the game, pulling off three top-class saves, but his team’s chances looked remote.

The Knock management though re-arranged their line-out, throwing caution to the wind by bringing full-back Conor Cassidy to full-forward.

It sparked a great fight-back that came up just two points short as the Belfast side hit an unanswered 1-4 in the closing 15 minutes.

Cassidy contributed 2 points, while Ryan McCready fired in a 48th minute goal and added 2 points as well.  There was even a late opportunity to win it – but Bessbrook held on to fall over the line.

It looked so differnet earlier on.  That penalty from Sloan gave them a 1-5 to 0-5 interval advantage and 2 points from Stephen Lavelle were followed by a well-taken goal by the impressive Ciaron O’Hanlon.

Even sub Fionnán Burns added a point as his side went 2-9 to 0-6 clear in the 42nd minute – but that was the south Armagh side’s last score and they were left praying for the final whistle as Knock closed the gap.

St Paul’s Bessbrook : Ciaron O’Hanlon 1-1, Conor Sloan 1-0, Christopher Lynch 0-4, Stephen Lavelle 0-2, Mark Feehan 0-1, Fionnán Burns 0-1.

OLSP Knock : Ryan McCready 1-2, Conor Cassidy 0-2, Peter Mooney 0-2, Lorcan McMullan 0-1, Peter Lavery 0-1, Daniel Eastwood 0-1, Sean McGonigle 0-1.

Comhghairdeas d’Ardscoil Naomh Pól, An Sruthán

( with thanks to Séamus McAleenan, first published on Ulster Colleges GAA, http://www.ulstercollegesgaa.org/news/bessbrook-take-first-ever-colleges-39-title )