Caulfield’s strike edges Mercy to last-gasp win
Mercy College……………………………… 2-12
Ulster Colleges…………………………….. 1-14
By Daire Walsh
Shane Caulfield was the matchwinner for Mercy College in Donaghmore/Ashbourne on Saturday, as his injury-time point completed a magnificent comeback for the Galway school in this All-Ireland SAHC quarter-final.
Three points from Mercy marksman Jason Flynn had cancelled out a trio of frees from Mattie Lennon, but even though the Woodford men kept in touch with scores from Martin O’Brien and Flynn, four
points on the trot from Lennon (three) and Eamon Kearns gave Ulster Colleges a 0-10 to 0-5 half-time lead.
The Northerners looked set for victory when Domhnall Nugent’s goal on the restart increased the margin to eight, but a 1-3 salvo from Galway minor Flynn helped to reduce the deficit to two by the 55th minute.
A point from midfielder Lorcan McMullan looked to have settled Ulster, but a terrific Flynn major from a 21m free levelled matters before Caulfield split the post majestically from halfway.
Scorers For Mercy College, Galway: J Flynn 2-9 (1-8f), M O’Brien 0-2, S Caulfield 0-1.
Scorers For Ulster Colleges: M Lennon 0-9 (9f), D Nugent 1-0, C Johnson 0-2, L McMullan, C Egan, E Kearns 0-1 each.
MERCY COLLEGE, GALWAY: C Tuohy; S Pierce, C Nevin, R Fahy; L Uniacke, S Caulfield, P English; J Flynn, O Coyle; C Dillon, D Sweeney, E Morrissey; G Loughnane, M O’Brien, K McHugo.
Subs: C Kelly for Fahy (h-t), C Gardiner for Loughnane (35), Loughnane for Dillon (57).
ULSTER COLLEGES: C Hayden; T O Ciaren, R Brannigan, M Connolly; C Costello, C O’Neill, P Burke; L McMullan, C Egan; C Johnson, R McCambridge, E Campbell; M Lennon, D Nugent, E Kearns. Subs: E Sands for Nugent (44), J McManus for Burke (55), J McGoldrick
for Connolly (57), P Og McCrickard for McCambridge (57).
Referee: D Hughes (Carlow).