Danske Bank Gallagher Cup Final
St. Mary’s CBGS 4-18-1-11 St. Pat’s Maghera
Kevin Herron reports from All-Saints, Ballymena
St. Mary’s clinched the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup on Friday afternoon after building upon a positive first half showing in their 4-18-1-11 victory over St Pat’s Maghera at All-Saint’s, Ballymena.
The Glen Road outfit had their noses in front through Shea McGarry’s early goal, but Don Mulholland’s goal before the break reduced their lead to two points (1-07-1-05) at the interval.
A quickfire double from Finn Smyth early in the second half, paved his sides way to comfortable win at the conclusion with talisman Padraig Kelly adding a fourth late-on as their side lifted their third Ulster Colleges honours in the 2023-24 calendar year.
St. Mary’s were quickest out of the traps and led through early points from Shea McGarry and Padraig Kelly.
A converted free from Donnacha Collins got Maghera up and running for the afternoon and Collins doubled his account from play, replying to a converted dead-ball from Padraig Kelly.
The opening goal arrived after eight minutes and fell to St. Mary’s with Shea McGarry firing low past Fionn Wallace to make it 1-03-0-02.
The sides equally traded four scores in the aftermath, Donnacha Collins hit an instant reply to the goal and then landed his fourth point of the half from range, but in between times Padraig Kelly converted his second free and Finn Smyth dropped an effort over the bar.
Adam McGahey extended his sides advantage, though with five minutes to the break a long ball up the line stuck for Don Mulholland he took off towards goal before steering a low shot past Daire Gault and into the net to make it 1-06-1-04.
Both sides would register further points before the break courtesy of Jude Gamble and Collins as St. Mary’s held a 1-07-1-05 lead at the break.
St. Mary’s extended their lead upon the resumption as captain Conall Dempsey was felled following Owen Elliott throwing the ball in and he dusted himself down to float over the resulting set-piece.
Shea McGarry followed up with his first point and Dempsey landed a second free to open up a five-point advantage again.
Their second goal would arrive on the 28th minute, Adam McGahey did well to slip a pass across to Finn Smyth and he intelligently bounced a shot into the ground and the net to open up a 2-10-1-05 lead.
Points were traded in the aftermath between McGahey and Donnacha Collins (free) before Finn Smyth conjured up his second goal in the space of five minutes.
The scorers of the opening two goals combined as Shea McGarry laid the ball off to Smyth and he sent a low shot between the legs of Fionn Wallace into the net to put some daylight between the sides at 3-11-1-06.
Davin Hassan replied with a fine point for Maghera, though St. Mary’s lead was extended further with Padraig Kelly adding another two to his ever-increasing tally; one from a free and the other from range with Adam McGahey also producing a super angled score.
Maghera were mainly reliant on the scores of Donnacha Collins over the course of the afternoon. He ended up with a tally of eight points, four of which came from frees with Padraig Kelly landing with fourth placed ball in-between.
Hassan ensured his side reached double figures on the points tally but St. Mary’s would add their fourth goal in response on the 46th minute.
Finn Smyth picked out club-mate Padraig Kelly at the edge of the square and he rifled low to the net to make it 4-15-1-10.
Talisman Kelly landed the last of his impressive 1-07 haul in the closing stages. Team-mates Adam McGahey and Conall Dempsey added to their individual tallies, whilst Cahair McDonnell added a consolation score for Maghera before Owen Elliott brought proceedings to a conclusion.
Conall Dempsey would become the third St. Mary’s captain to lift Ulster Colleges silverware this year as the conveyor belt of success keeps on delivering for the Glen Road outfit.
St. Mary’s CBGS: D Gault, O Marley, E Flynn, D Rainey, B McCaul, G Delaney, M O’Neill, J Gamble (0-01), C Dempsey (0-03, 0-02f), O Kennedy, F Smyth (2-01), R Mcilhatton, P Kelly (1-07, 0-04f), S McGarry (1-02), A McGahey (0-04). Subs: E Hughes for O Kennedy (47).
St. Pat’s Maghera: F Wallace, C Boyle, D McKaigue, C Duggan, K Friel, D McEldowney, D McKenna, S McCormick, C McDonnell (0-01), D Collins (0-08, 0-04f), S O’Hara, J Conway, D Hassan (0-02), D Mulholland (1-00), R O’Loughlin. Subs: O Burke for R O’Loughlin (40), J Bradley for D McKenna (47).
Referee: Owen Elliott (All Saints, Ballymena)
