Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-final

St Patrick’s, Maghera 1-4 St Mary’s, Magherafelt 1-6

Watching Friday evening MacRory Cup quarter final at Owenbeg you could not help but admire the quality of players on show, two neighbouring schools, many of whom were members of the Derry team who won last year’s All Ireland Minor title, battling it out in a top class game of football.

Of course both teams had a sprinkling of Antrim players in their ranks, one starter Tiernan McCormick of Moneyglass and two subs Sean Boyd (Moneyglass) Conor Johnston (Creggan) on the St Pat’s team while St Mary’s had two starters Ben McClarnon and Jack Harney, both from Cargin, while Daniel McCann (Cargin), Liam McLernon and Fintan Close of Creggan on the bench. Of course the St Mary’s manager Kevin Brady is also a former star for Antrim and Moneyglass, and his assistant Ronan Devlin is the current Cargin manager.

There is one other player on the St Mary’s side with Antrim connections. Right half forward Eamon Young of Newbridge is grandson of former Glenravel man Paddy Magee, who was joint manager when the Con Magees won the club’ first Antrim Minor Championship title back in 1964. Young, who won an All Ireland medal with Derry last season, had an excellent game against St Pat’s and was involved in the key score of the game for the Magerafelt side. Leading by 0-3 to 0-2 at the end of a low scoring opening half, St Pat’s appeared to have taken control when a great move involving Fionn McEldowney and Johnny McGuckian was finished to the net by Dara McPeake.

St Mary’s were now well and truly up against it, but incredibly St Pat’s didn’t score again during the next 27 minutes, and while St Mary’s weren’t exactly fluent either they were starting to dominate the possession. A pointed free by Conall Higgins left three between the sides before a length of the field move which saw Patrick Birt  find Young who put Higgins clear with the most perfect of passes for the Maghera man in to fire low to the corner of the net.

They went three clear in injury time though Maghera threw everything they had at them in search of a goal that would have forced extra time, all they conceded was a last gasp point from Moneyglass man Tiernan McCormick as they booked a semi-final place against champions Omagh