Cavan underage football got a major boost on Wednesday, March 15th when Virginia College produced a tremendous display of powerful direct football to overcome a fancied Ulster and All-Ireland champions St. Ciaran's High School, Ballygawley in this season's Ulster Bank Vocational Schools Markey Cup (U-18) final played in St. Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen. The match played in cold wintry conditions on a top-class playing surface saw the winners dominate proceedings from start to finish with a team performance that the reigning champions had no answer for. Indeed, it was only in the closing quarter when both sides were reduced to 14-men that the Tyrone side put any real pressure on a Virginia side, scoring five points in that period. The opening half of the game was very competitive, and while the Virginia side always held the edge it wasn't until they scored the only goal of the half just before the break that left any daylight between the sides. Half-time score 1-4 to 0-3. Virginia started the second-half in whirlwind fashion and with the game entering its final quarter they were almost 'home and dry' leading by 2-7 to 0-3. The Ballygawley side made a mini comeback in the closing quarter during which they scored five points, but it was too little too late as the Virginia side finished the game in style with their third goal from Ciaran Sexton. Virginia College - M. Clarke (capt.); B. Coleman, C. Tully, D. Foxe; K. Farrelly, R. Farrelly, T. Ferguson; Eugene Keating 0-2, J. McEnroe; C. Sexton 1-2, D. Costello 0-1, T. Keating; A. Cole 0-2, C. Smith 1-2, F. Flanagan. Subs - G. Daly for T. Keating; S. O'Reilly for D Costello. Tweet

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