Late McLaughlin point earns Tower a share of the spoils

Danske Bank Ulster Colleges Hurling – Mageean Cup

St Louis 1-15 St Killian’s 0-18

A point deep in injury time from St Killian’s centre forward Joseph McLaughlin earned his team a share of the spoils against St Louis in Thursday’s Mageean Cup game at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel. St Louis, who had been the better team for most of the game, appeared to be cruising to victory but the Tower staged a recovery with a flurry of late points to earn an unlikely draw. However St Louis won’t be too disappointed as they still go straight through to the semi-final by virtue of score difference and they also have the added bonus of avoiding Cross & Passion College in the semi-final.

**St Killian’s goalkeeper John V Morgan gets his hand up to block the ball and deny St Louis a goal during the first half of Thursday’s Mageean Cup game in Glenravel.**

With the breeze at their backs in the opening half St Louis were soon on top, and with centre forward Aidan McGarry controlling matters they opened an early lead. Some top class scores from St Killian’s free taker Joe McLaughlin kept his team in touch however, and when they trailed by just two at the break (0-10 to 0-8) they must have felt they were in with a great chance. However wind advantage didn’t appear to be doing them any good and Jack McCloskey goaled for St Louis they were seven to the good.

To their credit the Tower boys kept plugging away and with some good scores from Niall Magee, Cormac McKeown and Joe McLaughlin they clawed their way back. The gap was down to two when man of the match Aidan McGarry sent over another great free for the Ballymena school, and with just injury time to play St Louis appeared to be safe. However two pointed frees from McLaughlin left just one between the side, and with just seconds left to play the Ruairi Og club man hit a beauty from play to tie up the scores.

***St Louis Aidan McGarry who was star of the show in Thursday’s Mageean Cup draw with St Killian’s***

St Killian’s needed to win to top the group and go straight into a semi-final. Instead they have a quarter-final with Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock after midterm.

St Louis will face the winner from the St Patrick’s Maghera v St Mary’s CBGS quarter-final which is also right after midterm.

St Louis: J McCloskey 1-2, A McGarry 0-9, S óg Blaney 0-2, P Martin 0-1, K O’Boyle 0-1.

St Killian’s: J McLoughlin 0-11, C McKeown 0-3, B O’Connor 0-2, O O’Connor 0-1, N Magee 0-1.

St Killian’s: John V Morgan, Aidan McSparran, Mark McSparran, Callagh Mooney, Killian McNaughton, Niall Magee, Cailin Devlin, Patrick McIlwaine, Eamonn Ward, Austin Birt, Joseph McLaughlin, Cormac McKeown, Orrin O’Connor, Brogan O’Connor, Phelim Ward

Subs: Peadar McDonnell for P Ward, Niall Hynds for A McSparran, Charlie McAuley for P McIlwaine.

St Louis: Caolán McFerran, Senan O’Boyle, Piaras Patterson, Francis McMullan, Kevin O’Boyle, Darragh Patterson, Luke McFerran, Joe McCormick, Tom McFerran, Darragh Martin, Aodhán McGarry, Pádraig Martin, Ronan McCollum, Seán óg Blaney, Jack McCloskey.

Subs: C McMullan for F McMullan, M Treanor for L McFerran, B McCloskey for T McFerran.

Referee: Ray Matthews.