Corn Uan Uladh semi-final

St Patrick’s Maghera 0-15 Cross & Passion Ballycastle 0-9

Pics by Bert Trowlen

Seven points in the first half in Portglenone from Carla Collins helped St Patrick’s Maghera gain control of their Corn Uan Uladh semi-final in rainy Portglenone today. However, apart from the second quarter when they gap between the teams opened, Cross & Passion matched the holders all the way.

Collins scored twice as Maghera moved 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after just five minutes, but Shannagh Heggarty tightened things at the back with Erin O’Hara pulling off a couple of fine saves and Janey McIntosh’s two points were added to the earlier Shana Deery score to level things after 17 minutes.

However Maghera took off with a point from Eimear Doherty a minute later and five more scores from Collins with a second point from corner-forward Eavann Convery put Maghera in a comfortable lead of 0-10 to 0-4 at the break.

A point from Eobha McAlister on the re-start got CPC back into the game and they fought hard to remain in contention, matching Maghera’s intensity and picking off some nice points along the way.

Orlaith Hull had entered the game at half time and she quickly picked off two good points for Maghera during the third quarter with another from Collins in between. Those were matched by excellent scores from play for Marie Laverty, Mary McArthur and Eobha McAlister and the Ballycastle girls were still within striking distance ten minutes from time.

However they couldn’t add to their total from then until the final whistle and Carla Collins finished off the scoring with her ninth point a minute from time.

While Maghera looked the better balanced all round team, with Collins their top player, Erin O’Hara was outstanding with at least five great stops and Shanagh Heggarty, Eobha McAlister and Erin Connolly also played very well for the losers.

St Patrick’s: C Collins 0-9 (3 frees), E Convery and O Hull 0-2 each, K McCloskey and E Doherty 0-1 each

CPC: E McAlister (2 frees) and J McIntosh (1free) 0-3 each, S Deery, M Laverty and M McArthur 0-1 each

St Patrick’s: M Hughes, A McWilliams, E Murray, E McCormick, R Doherty, C Conway, B Brolly, E Doherty, K McCloskey, C Mallon, C Collins, G Kelly, E Quinn, C Chambers, E Convery

Subs: O Hull for C Mallon (HT), MT McCullagh for E McCormick (42), A Mulholland for E Quinn (45)

CPC: E O’Hara, C Boylan, O Breen, D McQuillan, E Connolly, S Heggarty, C Delaney, S Deery, T McAfee, E McAlister, J McIntosh, C Dobbin, M Laverty, M McArthur, E McCaughan.

Subs: M Cunning for C Boulan (HT), N McCaughan for T McAfee (37),

Referee: J O’Neill (Armagh)