Cross & Passion College 2-6 St Killian’s Garron Tower 1-8
Late points from Liam McGarry and Oisin McCallin gave Cross & Passion College a narrow victory over St Killian’s Garron Tower in Friday’s Gallagher Cup opening round game at Pairc MacUilin, Ballycastle.
In the first competitive game these players have represented the school, a well taken goal by full forward Cahir McNaughton had his team in front but cpc came back with goals from Ruairi McShane and Conor Anderson to lead at half time. Pointed frees from Canice McIntosh brought St Killian’s back on terms by the second half water break and they went ahead soon after the restart. However CPC finished strongly with points from Liam MGarry and Oisin McCallin gave their team the win.
CPC
Callum Magee, Dan Henry, Eunan Johnston, Emmett McKendry, Darragh Kinney, Liam Magee, Patrick McCaughan, Ruairi McGilligan, Luke Connolly, Tiernan Staunton, Oisin McCallin, Liam McGarry, Logan McConville, Conor Anderson, Ruairi McShane
St Patrick’s Downpatrick 2-15 St Patrick’s Maghera 1-14
A SUPERB turnover from Dara Coulter in defence led to a 46th minute goal for Fearghal MacManus and the opening day shock result in the Danske Bank Mageean Cup at the Dub.
That goal was the turning point in a highly competitive game where newcomers St Patrick’s Downpatrick took the lead and pushed on to secure a four points’ victory over Maghera. From that score onwards Maghera were chasing a result and their best chance came seven minutes from the end when Peter McCullagh was through with a clear run on goal to level at 2-13 each.
However a Red High defender pulled him down and sacrificed a foul for Downpatrick to win their first Mageean match with late points from Adam Rogan and Oisin Coulter.
McCullagh was the key player for Maghera, scoring 1-4 in the opening half as they led by 1-9 to 1-7 at the break, the Downpatrick goal scored by Rossa McGrath. Michael Dorrian floated over a few great points in each half with goalie Pearse Smyth not only secure between the posts, but contributing two points as well.
Downpatrick: R McGrath 1-0, F MacManus 1-0, M Dorrain 0-6, T McGrattan 0-3, P Smyth 0-2 frees, O Coulter 0-2, F Turpin 0-1, A Rogan 0-1.
Maghera : P McCullagh 1-6, 0-6 frees, J Friel 0-3, 1 free, N Barton 0-2, C Murtagh 0-1, T McKeagney 0-1, C Mullan 0-1
Cross and Passion got their Danske Bank Mageean Cup campaign up and running with a 0-18-2-08 win over St. Mary’s CBGS at All Saint’s Ballymena this afternoon.
It was the first time that either side were in competitive school action for over a year and a half, since the Covid-pandemic stuck in March 2020 and brought the Foresters competition to a premature end.
St. Mary’s opened the scoring through a converted Dubhaltach Wilson free- though Christy McGarry replied at the other end.
Both Wilson and McGarry traded the next two scores and swapped scenarios, Wilson floating one from play and McGarry landing a free in response.
McGarry edged his side ahead for the first time from a magnificent side-line cut, Ben O’Kane then picked out a score from range before McGarry added two further points to his tally- one from play and another converted free to move his side 0-06-0-02 to the good.
St. Mary’s hit back on 18 minutes as full-forward Conor Hand picked up the loose ball and struck low past Criosta McAuley to leave the bare minimum separating the duo.
Although Cross and Passion would restore their four-point advantage at the interval. Jack Colgan measured a nice effort between the large posts and talisman Christy McGarry added another two to his increasing tally to move the Ballycastle outfit 0-10-1-02 in front at the midway point.
McGarry converted his fourth free of the afternoon inside the opening two minutes of the second-half, with Dubhaltach Wilson sending over a 65’ from range.
The Glen Road side were then reduced to 14-men when Conor Hand hit out off the ball and referee Owen Elliott was left with little choice but to show the full-forward a red-card as his side were now firmly up against it – a man light.
Their talisman Wilson did reduce arrears with his second free of the game and despite McGarry floating over a response, Wilson again pulled one back.
By the second-half water break Cross and Passion had extended their lead to five, Christy McGarry added two further scores to reach double figures for the day.
Wilson and McGarry traded points upon the resumption before a well worked move saw Diarmaid Rogan slipped in and his low drive deceived Crisota McGarry and hit the net to give St. Mary’s some renewed hope with less than ten minutes remaining.
They couldn’t kick on any further however as Cross and Passion registered the next three scores on the bounce to regain their five-point cushion.
Christy McGarry punished two fouls with two converted frees and in-between times Tiarnan Hegarty flashed over from play.
Back-to-back Dubhaltach Wilson free’s put a goal between the sides with time running out, but the Belfast side were unable to strike and claim a share of the spoils as Christy McGarry finished the afternoon with 0-15 to his name with his eighth converted free of the contest to ensure a winning start for his side.
Both sides are back in action next midweek as Cross and Passion take on local rivals Garrontower, while St. Marys and St Louis Ballymena will battle it out to stay in competition.
St. Mary’s CBGS: R Camlin, M Darragh, P Moyes, D Coleman, B McCauley, F Mervyn, P Short, E McBriarity, J Mackin, D Rogan (1-00), A Murray, D Wilson (0-08, 0-05f, 0-01 65’), C Duffy, C Hand (1-00), N McGarry. Subs: B Burns for N McGarry (HT), R McAreavey for J Mackin (HT), J Maguire for E McBriarity (36).
Cross and Passion: C McAuley, P McAlonan, J Bakewell, C Connolly, J Colgan (0-01), R McCormick, E Boylan, B McGarry, D Kelly, C McGarry (0-15, 0-08f, 0-01 side-line), T Hegarty (0-01), B O’Kane (0-01), G McToal, O Donnelly, C Donnelly.
St Killians Garron Tower 4-17(29) St Louis, Ballymena 1-13(16)
St Killian’s made a great start to their Mageean Cup campaign when the beat St Louis in their opening game at Waterfoot on Thursday, running out winners by thirteen points. A good start was vital in this ultra-competitive group and St Killian’s started strongly. After an exchange of points between Patrick McIlwaine and St Louis Jack McCloksey Niall McGarel and top scorer Joseph McLaughlin put them two clear by the 7th minute
A great point direct from a sideline cut by St Louis midfielder Daire McMullan left just a point between the sides, but St Killian’s were having the better of things and three points in two minutes by Seanie McIntosh, Joseph McLaughlin and Niall McGarel put them four ahead. Ronan McCollum pulled one back from a free for the Ballymena school on 13 minutes but three in a row from McLaughlin and a goal from full forward Niall McGarel saw them open a gap that had them nine ahead at half time. (1-10 to 0-4)
With the light breeze at their backs in the second half St Louis cut the gap back to six in the first 7 minutes at Ronan McCollum fired over three points from frees. It began to look like St Killian’s were losing their grip on the game but once they got their first point from a Joseph McLaughlin free on 38 minutes they regained control. A goal from Orrin O’Connor two minutes later swung things back in Garron Tower’s favour and when Seanie McIntosh added two more points from play the game was all but decided.
Ronan McCollum pulled a point back for St Louis but two goals inside a minute form McLaughlin sealed the win. St Louis kept on battling to the end and points from Jack McCloskey and Ronan McCollum, plus a McCollum goal gave them something to take into next week’s crucial game with St Mary’s.
ST KILLIAN’S
John V Morgan, Josh Schnell, Mark McSparran, Killian McNaughton, Mick Quinn, Donal Kearney, Shane McKenna, Odhran Gillan, Patrick McIlwaine, Padriag McKillop, Archie McSparran, Jospeh McLaughlin, Brogan O’Connor, Niall McGarel, Seanie McIntosh.
Con Magees GAC, Glenravel are actively seeking applications for the position of Senior Football Team Manager for the incoming season. If you are interested in applying please send an email to info@conmagees.com in the first instance. Many thanks.
