MacLarnon 1985
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'85 McLarnon Cup Final
Saturday 9th March 1985 was a busy one for the Gaelic Footballers and mentors in St. Eunan's College. The Senior Team were contesting an all Donegal Ulster McLarnon Cup Final against P.C.C. Falcarragh in Ballybofey at 3p.m.
The U16's contested and won the Herald Cup in Templemore in Derry against Loreto College, Coleraine in emphatic fashion 3-09 to 0-01. A goal inside the first minute set the boys from the Cathedral town on their way and they held a commanding half time lead of 2-06 to 0-01. The St. Eunan's scorers on the day were Declan O'Donnell and Anthony Gorman (1-01), Joe Higgins and Paul McGovern (0-03), and Maurice McBride (1-00). This morning success set the Letterkenny College up for a very historic Day if their highly fancied Seniors, with several of the County minor team to choose from, could land the coveted Dr. McLarnon Cup.
Throughout the winter campaign St. Eunan's were the favourites to lift the McLarnon. They won the league section of the competition but were surprisingly beaten by Falcarragh in Dunfanaghy a month earlier 4-3 to 3-4. Both sides had impressive semi-final wins. St. Eunan's saw off the attentions of Belfast 's St. Malachy's while Falcarragh took the scalp of De La Salle Ballyshannon. St. Malachy's beat Falcarragh in the league section and Eunan's were hotly fancied.
St. Eunan's started well and led Falcarragh by 1-01 within the first 5 minutes. Credit to PCC as they clawed their way back into the game and restored parity with 15 minutes left, 1-05 each. The writing seemed to be on the wall for the west Donegal College when Michael Doherty was dismissed for a second personal foul and the Letterkenny College fully punished the foul by converting the resulting free and took the lead. In a pulsating final 10 minutes Barry Cunningham equalised and both sides slugged it out until Alistair Steward punted the ball upfield and Francis Murray was upended. The free was over 30 meters out on the left side of the field and the Tyrone referee, Jim Curran told the free kicker that it was the last kick of the game. Big Barry Cunningham stepped up, took the size 5 in his hands, showed it to the line and said "it's going over!". Barry had practised numerous free's all year under the watchful eye of Fr. Sean Gallagher. Would all the work pay dividends. Team Captain Cunningham drove the ball straight over the bar and handed Falcarragh a memorable victory.
This will be remembered as another one that got away, Eunan's had the chances to win it but they spluttered on the big stage and failed to take them especially those in the last ten minutes.
Then St. Eunan's Manager was Paddy Tunney and is still involved with Gaelic Games in the College and Charlie McGeever was the Falcarragh Manager and has since taught in St. Eunan's.
Gaelic Football