Wed 7.30pm at the Dub Arena
St Killian’s Garron Tower v Cross & Passion Ballycastle.
The Mageean Cup Final between Cross & Passion College and St Killkians which was posponed back in December goes ahead tonight back at the Dub. This is the preview from the that date and as far as we are aware there will be no changes to the teams which were named back then.
Both teams have worked hard in the interim, and although a good few players have had flu or heavy colds which interupted their preparations, none of picked up any serious injuries and are raring to go.
See you all at the Dub!
It is hard to believe that Friday evening’s Mageean Cup decider brings together two teams that have never before met in the final of the the competition. Garron Tower first won it (then called the Ulster Shield) in 1953 when it was played for in a league format and were the first winners when it became the Mageean Cup in 1963. That win completed a four in a row for the north Antrim college, but amazingly they have not claimed the famous title since.
The logistics have changed greatly since that win sixty years ago. A lot of that team were boarders, and a good few of their team came from areas outside what is now their catchment area.
Cross & Passion won their first title in 1977 and they added their second the following year. They won it again in 1994, but their real run of success came began in 2006 and they have been really competitive since then, adding another six titles as well as competing in a good few other finals.
They have crossed swords with the Tower many time during those years, but never in a final so Friday night promises to be something special.
Seldom has a season seen the finalists been as dominant as these two, both of them going through the campaign, not only undefeated, but untroubled as well.
Cross and Passion booked their place in Friday’s final when they beat St Mary’s CBGS in the semi-final at Dunsilly by 2-20 to 1-7, while St Killian’s ran up a massive 6-22 when beat St Pat’s Maghera in the other semi-final in Ahoghill, conceding just 1-7 in the process. These stats would suggest both sides have a potent set of forwards, but also very mean defences.
The record of these two sides in hurling competitions through the school years had always suggested they would end up meeting the Blue-Riband of colleges hurling, the Mageean Cup, and so it has come to pass.
The CPC team on Friday evening is expected to be much the same as the one who beat St Mary’s in that semi-final with last season’s Under 20 county goalkeeper Eoghan Richmond guarding the goals. Cathair Donnelly, Cian Beaudant and Niall McClean formed the full back line that night with Ben O’Kane, team captain Ben McGarry and Tiagao McGarry making up one of the strongest lines on the field. Joe Magee and new boy Reece Cunning were the midfield partnership in the semi final with ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald, Liam Glackin and ace free taker Paudi Martin making up a formidable half forward line. Martin incidentally is bidding to become only the second player to win back to back Mageean medals with two different schools, following his success with St Louis last year.
One of the youngest players on the pitch, if not indeed the youngest, Oisin McCallin, is a highly stylish corner forward, while power-house Conor Donnelly is a very dangerous full forward and corner forward Roan McGarry one of the brightest young stars in the county. Darragh Kelly, who missed the semi-final through injury, is fit again, and is likely to start.
In the semi-final they used three subs Callin Cane, Cadhan Crawford and Ashton McGarry, all very good replacements, and in a panel of 30 players there are many more to step in if needed.
In their semi-final St Killian’s had Thomas McLaughlin in goal, with Colla Ward, Cailin Devlin and John Scullion in the full back line, with Charlie McAuley pivoting the defence at centre back with the Oisins duo of Cathan Graham on his right and Niall Magee on his left. Callum McIlwaine and Callagh Mooney have been a formidable midfield pairing all season and is should be a great battle between them and the CPC pairing of Magee and Cunning.
The St Killian’s forward line having been running up big scores throughout the competition with the half forward line of Orrin O’Connor, Austin Birt and Cormac McKeown a very potent line. The full forward line of Peadar McDonnell, Oran McCambridge and man of the season Joseph McCambridge have been carry a real scoring threat, all of them carrying a real goal threat and if the Tower are to the school’s 60 year famine then goals will be essential.
In their one sided semi-final the Tower used its full complement of subs with Niall Hynds, Eamon Ward, Cathan Michael Furey, Fintan McKillop and James Kearney all seeing some action, and in a game of this intensity a few of them should be used again.
Overall it promises to be a great game of hurling. Both teams are very good with the forward lines in particular capable of putting up big scores. For me the one thing that will decide this contest is whoever adapts best to the Dub Arena, the small pitch and the floodlights, will triumph.
