St Killians secure semi-final place

Danske Bank Mageean Cup

St Killian’s Garron Tower 4-15 St Patrick’s Maghera 1-8

LAST year’s beaten finalists St Killian’s Garron Tower have qualified for next month’s Danske Bank Mageean Cup semi-final after their second high-scoring victory in Group A yesterday afternoon.

Maghera’s took an early lead and a Jack McCloy goal on 15 minutes, which the left half forward flicked overhead to the the net, had them six clear. The Tower eventually got going and goals from Cormac McKeown, playing on his home pitch, and Oran McCambridge sent St Killian’s in with an interval lead of 2-6 to 1-5, despite having played against the strong wind.

Joseph McLaughlin, who hit three points in Cushendall’s Volunteer Cup success on Sunday, was introduced at half time and he opeed his account by pointing three of the first four points on the re-start before a goal from Oisin Mort gave them a bit of breating space. Mort added a fourth goal quickly after to put the game beyond the Derry school while Maghera’s only scores of the second half came from Odhrán McElhinney and a Conor Downey free

As well as sending St Killian’s through to the semi-finals, today’s result means that St Mary’s CBGS Belfast will play St Louis Ballymena in one of the two quarter-finals.

However Maghera will have to wait until Tuesday’s final game in Group B to discover their quarter-final opponents. They will play whoever loses between Ol&SP Knock and CPC Ballycastle with the winner of that game joining St Killian’s in the semi-finals.