Críost Rí get off to a flying start
Upping the tempo considerably, with the wind to their backs after the break, Críost Rí brushed aside their opponents with a fine display of strong, attacking football, highlighted by some superb individual performances from Paul Kerrigan, Roy Leahy and team captain Colin O'Brien.
It was all square at 0-4 apiece at half- time following a dour, unimpressive first-half in which Douglas gave as good as they got. Indeed, at one stage Douglas, with points from Alan Barry, Fintan O'Leary and Mark Hayes led 0-4 to 0-2, but a late burst, which yielded life-injecting scores from centre-forward Kerrigan and corner- forward Graham Cummins, had Críost Rí level at half-time.
Then the champions received a wake-up call seconds after the resumption when wing-forward Philip Holland edged Douglas back in front with a magnificent point.
But awaking from their slumbers Críost Ri proceeded to turn on the style with devastating effect.
Roy Leahy soloed through and after his first attempt was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Brian Kavanagh, the Críost Rí right half-forward, with great composure, steered the rebound to the corner of the Douglas net to power his side in front for the first time in the 34th minute.
Two minutes later, at the other end, Douglas came within a whisker of regaining the lead but Críost Rí goalkeeper Roy Heaphy was smartly off his line to deny corner-forward Kevin Murphy.
There and then this game died a quick death as a meaningful contest.
Following a point from impressive wing-back David Coughlan, which stretched his side's lead to three, Críost Rí soared into the ascendancy and some spectacular scores in testing conditions, particularly from Kerrigan and Leahy, opened up daylight between the teams entering the final quarter.
Although now seven points adrift, Douglas courageously strove to narrow the gap but a last minute goal from left corner-forward Graham Cummins copper-fastened Críost Rí's comprehensive triumph.
However, the champions will have to improve dramatically if they are to hold on to their coveted title.
: Coláiste Chríost Rí: R. Leahy 1-3 (0-1 from 45); G. Cummins 1-1; P. Kerrigan 0-4; D. Coughlan, F. Lynch, S. McCarthy and E. Hegarty (free) 0-1 each. Douglas Community School: F. O'Leary 0-3 (0-1 free); A. Barry 0-2 (0-1 free); E. Hearne, M. Hayes and P. Holland 0-1 each.
: R. Heaphy; I. Lyons, M. O'Sullivan, D. Murphy; R. O'Keeffe, C. O'Brien, D. Coughlan; I. Madden, F. Lynch; R. Leahy, P. Kerrigan, E. Hegarty; S. McCarthy, P. Butler, G. Cummins. Subs: K. Donnelly for Lyons; B. Newman for Madden.
: B. Kavanagh; P. McCarthy, P. Carroll, S. Lynch; K. O'Donoghue, B. O'Connor, Killian Murphy; A. Barry, F. O'Leary; E. Hearne, T. O'Connor, P. Holland; Kevin Murphy, M. Hayes, I. Cullinane. Subs: S. Hanrahan for Kevin Murphy; P. Casey for Hayes.
: M. Corcoran (Delanys).
