Danske Bank Mageean Cup 2017 – quarter-final
Danske Bank Mageean Cup holders St Mary’s Belfast crashed out of this season’s competition at the quarter-final stage when they were beaten by a highly impressive St Patrick’s Maghera side in Ballymena on Tuesday afternoon.
St Mary’s performed well in the first half despite facing a strong breeze and although Maghera held the upper hand the holders were still in touch at half time despite trailing by six points. However when they turned around with the wind (and by this stage driving rain) at their backs they were still playing catch up as St Pat’s took complete control as they powered their way to a semi-final place.
An early exchange of points between St Pat’s Peadar McLaughlin and St Mary’s Dominic McEnhill had the scored tied after five minutes but the Derry side struck the first telling blow two minutes later when the St Mary’s defence left the goal unguarded and McLaughlin had the simple task of firing the ball to and empty net. The gap got wider as man of the match Richie Mullan fired over three long range points from frees and though Aaron Bradley kept his team in touch with some well taken points from frees and play, the gap was out to six by the time the short whistle sounded as Richie Mullan hit two more from placed balls to give his team a 1-8 to 0-5 half time lead.
Two minutes later corner forward Padraig O’Kane grabbed his team’s third goal to stretch the lead to 3-11 to 0-7 and by this stage the only thing in question was the size of the winning margin
Wing half back and captain Fearghal Ó Caiside got in on the goal scoring when he pushed forward to grab his team’s fourth and though subtitute Lorcán Ó Ciaráin hit a couple of excellent points Padraig O’Kane grabbed Maghera’s fifth goal three minutes from time.
On this display St Pat’s will take a lot of stopping. They lost heavily in their opening game in the league section to CPC but they were short a lot of players that day and since them they have improved with every game. They are now likely to face St Louis Ballymena in the semi-final while in the other semi-final CPC should meet either St Killian’s College or An Dún.
St Patrick’s C Henry, O Magill, L McCann, R Mulholland, F Ó Caiside, T Walsh, R Mullan 0-8 f, P Quinn 0-2, M Quinn, F Bradley, P McLaughlin 1-2, M McCormick 0-1, P O’Kane 2-1, D Bradley 0-1, T McHugh 1-1
St Mary’s : C Sheehan, C McKernan, M Napier, C Shannon, D McEnhill 0-2, 0-1f, S Wilson, C McGettigan, M Close, M Mallon, D McKeogh, E McMenamin 0-1, C Crossan 0-1, A Bradley 0-5, 0-3f, P Doyle 0-2, D Murray.
Subs: L Ó Ciaráin 0-2 for M Mallon (28), C McParland for D McKeogh (43), R Fegan for C Shannon (52), R Gailbraith for D Murray (52), M Kerr for C McGettigan (58), D Wisdom for C Crossan (58).
Referee : Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)
Pics by John McIlwaine