Danske Bank Leonard Cup semi-final
Cross & Passion Ballycastle 3-5 St Killian’s Garron Tower 1-5
WHEN these teams met in last year’s Danske Bank Gallagher Cup final, Cross & Passion Ballycastle were comfortable winners. They won again on Tuesday in Cushendun, but it was a less than convincing performance this time and one that will need to improve ahead of Friday’s final (Ballymena, 1.30pm) against St Patrick’s Maghera.
After an initial flurry from St Killian’s, CPC dominated the first half, but despite an opportunist goal from Dara Kinney in the 12th minute, only led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break. Oisín Connolly hit three points from play and, along with Ashton McGarry, dominated the middle third of the pitch.
St Killian’s lifted their game after the break, but didn’t score until Ciarán McCann fired in a goal in the 42nd minute to close the gap to two points. Ballycastle responded quite quickly with a goal from Cadhan Crawford and then sub Conor Anderson, on the pitch just two minutes, lifted the roof of the Garron Tower net from 20 metres.
That effectively was game over, although St Killian’s added three late points to make the score-line a little more respectable from their point of view.
CPC: C Magee, P McCaughan, R McQuaid, E Johnston, L Smyth, A McGarry, L Magee, O Connolly (0-3), L McGarry, E McKendry, C Johnson, L McConville (0-1), O McCallin, D Kinney (1-1), C Crawford (1-0)
Subs: R McGilligan for L McConville (40), C Anderson (1-0) for R McGilligan (48), D Henry for O McCallin (58), C McCullagh for L Magee (60 +2)
St Killian’s: B Duncan, N Rogers, C McLoughlin, C McAlister, P Morgan, Conor McCann, S McQuillan, L McQuillan, O Gillan, C McCambridge (0-1), C Scullion, D McNaughton (0-1), N McLaughlin, C McIntosh (0-3, 2 frees), Ciarán McCann (1-0)
Subs: C Graham for L McQuillan (36), C Leech for C Scullion (54), L Mitchell for N McLaughlin (55).
Referee: P Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)
