Kelly stars as St Mary’s clinch McNamee honours

Danske Bank McNamee Cup Final

St Marys CBGS 5-06-1-08 Cross and Passion

Kevin Herron reports from Ahoghill

Padraig Kelly scored 3-03 of his sides 4-04 in the second half of their McNamee Cup Final victory over Cross and Passion at Ahoghill on Thursday afternoon.

Despite leading through an early Caolan Cosgrove goal, the Belfast outfit found themselves behind to Ronan Elliott’s strike but pulled level at the interval.

A magnificent start to the second half saw captain Kelly net his sides second and after Cross and Passion whittled a five-point deficit down to a single point, the St Galls talisman hit the net on two further occasions- with another from Jack Rafferty sealing their first ever Colleges title.

***Man of the match Padraig Kelly sends over a point from a free. The midfielder finished with 3-5 to his name***

Thursdays meeting was a repeat of the Antrim Cup Final which Cross and Passion won in Dunsilly back in May. St. Mary’s then lost the Ulster Colleges Final to St Pat’s Maghera and they were hoping they would triumph at the third time of asking.

They made a dream start inside of two minutes when Cristoir McCabe laid the ball into the path of Caolan Cosgrove to flick to the net.

Ronan Elliot replied with a point and Paidi O’Kane added another from a free before Cross and Passion turned things around with Elliot hooking low to the net to give his side a 1-02-1-00 lead.

Relentless St Mary’s pressure followed with Padraig Kelly converting two frees. He was inches away from finding the net in the dying embers of the opening half, only for a goal line clearance to ensure the sides went in deadlocked at 1-02 apiece.

The Glen Road outfit begin the second half in the ascendancy with Kelly converting his third free of the contest and Gerard Delaney then added one from play .

They then added their second goal of the afternoon. Padraig Kelly saw his free blocked down, he was prevented from getting a second opportunity on goal and at the third time of asking his shot found the net to make it 2-04-1-02.

Cross and Passion responded to their set back positively, scoring four on the trot to leave the bare minimum separating the sides. Ronan Elliot popped over on the turn, Cahir McCloskey converted a free and Paidi O’Kane dropped over successive scores approaching the final quarter.

St Mary’s were feeling the pressure but it was lifted when talisman Kelly shot low across the goal and it found its way in to give his side a 3-04-1-06 lead.

Cahir McCloskey made it a one score game, converting a free in response, Kelly netted his hat trick and a quick fire second followed with substitute Jack Rafferty steering in at the back post after Padraig Kelly saw his shot repelled.

Cahir McCloskey landed his sides final score from a free, although Kelly notched up two further points to finish with an individual tally of 3-05 (0-03f) as St Mary’s ran out 5-06-1-08 winners the conclusion.

St Mary’s scorers: Padraig Kelly 3-05 (0-03f), Caolan Cosgrove (1-00), Gerard Delaney (0-01).

Cross and Passion scorers: Ronan Elliott (1-02), Paidi O’Kane (0-03), Cahir McCloskey (0-03f)