Davitt’s Cup final
St Patrick’s College, Maghera 4-4 St Mary’s, Magherafelt 2-3
A GOAL from a scramble in the Magherafelt area ten minutes from the end of this tense Davitt’s Cup final in Lavey on Wednesday was enough to see St Patrick’s Maghera retain their title.
Orla McKenna was the player to get the last touch as the sliotar bobbled around the St Mary’s goal area and that kick-started 90 seconds of an onslaught from Maghera that took them out of sight.
Saoirse McCullagh pointed from the poc out. From a second poc out Rose Quinn raced through to fire high into the net and Quinn then added a free. Magherafelt pushed into attack, but Maghera filtered back and held out for victory.
Up until that point however, the Convent looked the more likely winner. Their defence was solid around full-back Córa McPeake and the forwards utilised the space up front to take a 1-3 to 0-0 lead into the break.
The goal was a real solo effort from Grace McCloskey in the 13th minute with Cliodhna Moore a big threat on the break, scoring two excellent points.
Maghera didn’t score until four minutes into the second half when sub Caoimhe Doherty found the net with her first touch. Five minutes later a goal from Rose Quinn edged them into a lead that lasted just three minutes.
That was how long it took Magherafelt to go 2-3 to 2-2 ahead through a 40 metres free from Gráinne Doherty that went all the way to the net. Magherafelt remained on the attack over the next ten minutes, but couldn’t add to their total and Maghera then snatched their chance.
St Patrick’s: R Quinn (2-1, 0-1 free), C Doherty (1-0), O McKenna (1-0), S McCullagh (0-2), E Scullion (0-1)
St Mary’s: G Doherty (1-1 frees), G McCloskey (1-0), C Moore (0-2)
