Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter-final
St Patrick’s Maghera 2-11 St Mary’s CBGS 0-14
A strong second half comeback by St Mary’s was not enough to bridge the gap as St Pat’s Maghera took advantage of a strong start to book their place in the semi-final of the Mageean Cup in two weeks time
A goal by the Maghera school inside the first minute was ultimately the difference between them and their quarter final opponents St Mary’s CBGS in a hard fought Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter-final at Quinn Park, Ballymena on Thursday.
The early score put Maghera in control for the remainder of the opening half and they led by six at the interval (1-7 to 0-4) despite some wayward shooting. Corner forward Conor Downey scored six points with Shea Walsh finishing the first half scoring with his side’s seventh.
St Mary’s, looked a lot more lively after the change of ends and with Adam Murray pointing a series of frees for the Belfast school they were back in the game.
St Mary’s were building some momentum and had the gap back to three when a high Eoin Scullion free into the St Mary’s square in the 47th minute was doubled overhead to the net Maghera were back in full control. When Fionn McEldowney won the poc-out and set up Antaine Donnelly for another point from play the gap was out to seven. To their credit St Mary’s kept battling away and a series of well taken points from Adam Murray frees saw them close the gap to three again, but the goal they needed never really looked like coming and Maghera go through to meet St Louis Ballymena in two weeks’ time.
St Patrick’s: C Melaugh, R McGarvey, M McKenna, O McNicholl, A McLaughlin, E Scullion 1-0 (f), S Lockhart, S Walsh 0-1, P McGuckian, F McEldowney 0-1, C McKaigue 0-2 (1f), C Gaile, C Downey 0-6 (4fs), C Bradley 1-0, A Donnelly 0-1.
Subs: B Kearney for C Bradley (45), L Collins for C Doweny (52)
St Mary’s: R Camlin, D Coleman, M Darragh, C Short, M Marlowe, E McGurk, B Burns, D O’Sullivan, C Rainey 0-1, A Murray 0-10 (fs), R McAreavey, J Wilson 0-1, F Jemfrey, C Corr, C Fegan 0-2.
Subs: O Cosgrove for J Wilson (34), L McCallion for R McAreavey (41), J Duffy for F Jemfrey (53)
Referee: C Cunning (Dunloy)
