Leonard Cup semi-final
St. Patrick’s Maghera 2-5 St. Killian’s Garron Tower 1-5
St. Patrick’s Maghera emerged victorious in this second Leonard Cup semi-final in Ballymena today but they had to withstand a late comeback by a battling St. Killian’s Garron Tower before securing a place in the final against St. Louis Ballymena later in the week.
In an easily forgettable opening half both defences dominated and scores proved hard to come by and at the halfway stage the sides were locked at 0-3 apiece. After the break the Maghera side came flying out of the starting blocks and led by the impressive Eamon Cassidy, threatened to over run their opponents.
The Slaughtneil youngster struck 2-1 in the opening eight minutes of the half but St. Killian’s regrouped and a Joe McNaughton goal saw them pressing hard at the end in search of an equalising goal but the St. Pat’s defence stood strong.
It was St. Killian’s Garron Tower who were first on the scoreboard when Matthew Black pointed them ahead in the third minute but St. Patrick’s Maghera replied through Niall Barton who sent over to tie the contest.
Both sides wasted chances as they battled to stamp their authority on the game before Joe McNaughton pointed a 12th minute free to give the Tower back the lead.
Eamon Cassidy restored parity once more from a close range free in the 17th minute and Niall Barton gave them the lead for the first time but Joe McNaughton tied the contest from a late free to leave matters all square at the break.
After the break it was the South Derry side who began with a flurry as Jack McGroarty raced through but shot wide before Niall Barton pointed in the 5th minute to give his side back the lead. A minute later Eamon Cassidy fielded superbly and rounded his marker before firing to the net from an acute angle to extend that lead to four.
The same player added a point from a 5th minute free and he then turned his marker out on the right wing before racing through for his second goal after eight minutes to open up an eight point gap and his side were threatening to run away with it.
St. Killian’s dropped a man back at this stage to limit supply to the Maghera talisman and the tactic certainly worked and Joe McNaughton fired a first time rebound to the net at the other end after Patrick McIlwaine’s initial effort was saved by Fintan O’Connell in the St. Patrick’s goals.
This score seemed to lift the North coast men and Cormac McKeegan added a point to close the gap to four. St. Patrick’s responded but Eamon Cassidy shot wide before Jack Dunne restored their four point advantage, his shot pushed over by John V Morgan in the St. Killian’s goals.
Both sides continued to waste chances but it was St. Killian’s who finished the stronger and a Joe McNaughton pointed free closed the gap to three as referee, Eoin Elliott signalled two minutes added time. The Tower laid siege on their opponent’s goal in the dying stages but the Maghera defence held out and they now go forward to meet St. Louis in the final.
St. Patrick’s Maghera: Fintan O’Connell, Tiarnan McCormick, Eoin Scullion, Fionn McEldowney, Dara McGurk, Adam McLaughlin, Eamon Duffin, Joseph McCullagh, Jack McGroarty, Matthew Mullen, Jack Dunne, Conall Bradley, Eamon Cassidy, Niall Barton, Oisin McNicholl Subs: Finn Bradley for Jack Dunne, Paedar McGuckin for Matthew Mullen.
St. Killian’s: John V Morgan, Stephen McAuley, Cailin Devlin, Ethan Graham, Conan Leech, Mark McSparran, Killian McNaughton, Matthew Black, Aidan McSparran, Joe McNaughton, Conan Rodgers, Frankie McCormick, Cormac McKeegan, Patrick McIlwaine, Oran O’Connor
Referee: Eoin Elliott (All Saints)
