Danske Bank Mageean Cup
St Patrick’s Maghera 2-12 Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock 2-7
A Fionn McEldowney double helped St Pat’s Maghera secure a semi-final spot in the Mageean Cup when they beat Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock in Wednesday evening’s semi-final at Cloney, Ahoghill. McEldowney, who has played most of school hurling in defence, lined out at corner forward and it proved a master stroke by team manager Paul Hughes as the Slaughtneill player showed great skill to score 2-2 of his team’s total, both goals excellently finished by the no. 15.
St Pat’s dominated the first half on the scoreboard and led by 2-9 to 0-4 at the break. The Knock side had a world of possession but they shot a series of bad wides, while Maghera were much more efficient. Free taker McKaigue Cahal McKaigue took advantage of a series of opportunities from placed balls to open a gap while the skilful touches of corner forward McEldowney saw them race to a commanding 2-9 to 0-4 lead by half time
Knock came more into the frame in general play during the third quarter, but hitting the target proved a real problem and it wasn’t until 51st minute that they raised their first flag of the second half. All of a sudden St Pat’s appeared to lose their edge and when full forward Sé Pucci hit the Maghera net there was suddenly some hope for the Knock side.
When Frank Kane grabbed a second goal for knock there was renewed hope for Knock but St Pat’s found a response when it was needed and kept the Down school at bay to set up a semi-final meeting with St Killian’s sometime next week.
Maghera: F McEldowney 2-2, C McKaigue 0-6, 5 frees, G McIvor 0-2, J McCloy 0-1, T McHugh 0-1.
Knock: S Pucci 1-2, 0-1 free, F Kane 1-1, B Taggart 0-3 frees, R McCamphill 0-1.
