Lynn’s late point snatches victory for CPC

Danske Bank MacNamee Cup final

Cross & Passion Ballycastle 1-9 St Patrick’s Maghera 2-5 AET

A POINT from substitute Dan Lynn two minutes from the end of extra time in a very competitive final in Ballymena tyoday was enough to take the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup away from St Patrick’s Maghera and up to the north coast.

That was the only score of extra time after the teams had finished level, 2-5 to 1-8, in a game that seemed to swing one way then the other keeping the spectators on edge throughout.

***Seamus McAleenan of Ulster Colleges presents the McNamee Cup to CPC captain Liam Smyth***

Cross & Passion played against the breeze in the first half and would have been mighty pleased to be trailing by just 1-2 to 0-1 at the break after Maghera dominated but shot a total of 11 wides. Rory Boyle though found the net for them midway through the half.

Within five minutes of the re-start however, Ballycastle were in the lead with three frees from Cathair McCaughan and points each for Logan McConville and Oran Boyle.

Maghera though fought back and Lavey’s Donncha Collins grabbed a goal with Finn Cartin quickly adding a point. At the other end a long free from Logan McConville seemed to be going for a point, but came off a defender’s stick for a goal.

***Rory Boyle scores St Pat’s opening goal***

That score lifted Ballycastle and they added points from McCaughan and Damian McMahon to edge ahead with just a couple of minutes left. Then Maghera broke clear and Cartin’s pass found Cahir McGilligan who was fouled within sight of goal. Cartin tapped over the free to put the game into extra time.

Maghera then had the better of the first half but failed to score while Dan Lynn picked up a breaking ball from a long free and struck the winner with no time left for Maghera to recover.

In an entertaining and well-contested final, Maghera’s centre back Sean O’Kane was the star man, but there were solid displays from Logan McConville, Eunan Johnston, Liam Smyth and the accurate Cathair McCaughan for Ballycastle with Cartin, Owen O’Neill and Cathair McCloskey good support for O’Kane.

**St Pat’s Fionn Carltin finds an opening in the CPC defence**

Cross & Passion: C Doubhart, O Donnelly, L Smyth capt., O Beaudant, O Devlin, E Johnston, C Woodhouse, D Kinney, L McConville 1-1, 1-0 free, J Deery, C Christie, O Boyle 0-2, C McAuley, D McMahon 0-1, C McCaughan 0-4 (3 frees).

Subs: D Lynn 0-1 for C McAuley (39), P Laverty for O Donnelly (47), E Bailey for J Deery (47).

St Patrick’s : A McVey, O O’Neill, C O’Kane, D McEldowney, B O’Kane, S O’Kane capt., C McCloskey, E Murphy, F Hardy, D Mulholland, F Cartin 0-5, (3 frees), D Collins 1-0, U McCloskey, C McGilligan, R Boyle 1-0.