Darragh Beirne-inspired St Colman's regain Connacht title 

The winners had to withstand a fierce second-half comeback from Summerhill.

Connacht GAA PPS Senior ‘A’ Football Championship final: St Colman's College (Claremorris) 2-9, Summerhill College (Sligo) 1-9  

We witnessed a star of the future stylishly impact the present as Darragh Beirne inspired St Colman's College of Claremorris to provincial glory in the Connacht GAA PPS Senior 'A' Football Championship final against Sligo town outfit Summerhill College at Ballyhaunis GAA pitch.

Beirne bagged 1-5 and was a constant threat as St Colman's won by three points, 2-9 to 1-9, to regain a title last won in 2019.

The winners had to withstand a fierce second-half comeback from Summerhill, who last won this competition two years ago, as substitute Callum Lynch’s goal after 41 minutes sparked a revival from the Sligo teens Accurate full-forward Aaron Lang, who kicked half a dozen points in all, landed a 47th minute free to make it a one-point game, 2-6 to 1-8.

But Summerhill only scored once more for the remainder of the contest, despi having chances, and their hopes of a full recovery were hindered by a black card for Cathal Gilligan after 53 minutes.

The beaten finalists will also regret two goal opportunities that went a begging before Callum Lynch found the net.

Adam Feeney’s goalbound shot was superbly kept out by St Colman's goalkeeper Evan Campbell and then Eamon O’Mahoney drilled a goal attempt narrowly wide to let St Colman's off the hook.

In a tight, well-contested decider, first-half goals from match-winner Darragh Beirne and Ciaran Treacy would ultimately give St Colman's the edge.

Summerhill, who has beaten St Colman's in the group stage, started smartly and pinged classy points from Aaron Lang and Paul Flynn to lead 0-3 to 0-1 by the ninth minute.

But St Colman's revealed their silverware intent when Darragh Beirne goaled with aplomb from a move involving Dylan Burke and Ciaran Treacy.

It was Treacy who found the net with a brilliant finish after 29 minutes and this helped St Colman's lead by six points at the break, 2-5 to 0-5.

Scorers St Colman's: Darragh Beirne 1-5 (2f, 1 ‘mark’); Ciaran Treacy (1-0); Ronan Kelly 0-2 (2f); Sean O’Connell 0-1; Ben Sheridan 0-1 

Scorers for Summerhill: Aaron Lang 0-6 (5f); Callum Lynch 1-0; Paul Flynn 0-2; Marc Clifford 0-1 

St Colman's College: E Campbell, S Petkovic, R Mortimer, N Gill, D Hurley, M Noonan, D Flanagan, C Cassidy, R Kelly, C Tierney, J Mullins, D Burke, S O’Connell, D Beirne, C Treacy 

Subs: T Hession for S Petkovic, 44; B Sheridan for R Mortimer, 50; J Comer for J Mullin, 58 

Summerhill College: J Cronin, T Murphy, F Campbell, J Hayes, C Murray, P Brady, J Donoghue, C Nicholson, C O’Neill, C Gilligan, E O’Mahoney, M Clifford, A Feeney, A Lang, P Flynn 

Subs: C Lynch for C Murray, h-t; J McEvoy for J Donoghue, 58; A Taheny for M Clifford, 58 

Referee: Michael McGirl