Corn Uan Uladh final
St Patrick’s Maghera 2-12 St Killian’s 1-6
St Pat’s Maghera retained their Corn Uan Uladh title at Portglenone on Wednesday evening when they beat St Killians by double scores to secure a place in the All Ireland semi-final against last year’s All Ireland winners Loreto of Kilkenny.
A strong start to each half was to stand the Maghera college in good stead and though St Killian’s fought back to within a point at a stage in the first half, St Pat’s were able to keep the north Antrim side at arms’ length to secure their 19th title in this grade.
Conditions were good in this the fourth fixing of this final in a ten day spell and the holders soon laid down a marker as Carla Collins pointed from a free and when Caoimhe Chambers grabbed a goal soon afterwards St Killian’s faced an uphill battle. St Pat’s held the upper hand for the next fifteen minutes, but St Killian’s got themsevels back into the game when Orlaith McCurry picked up a pass from Clodagh McPeake before breaking through and setting Amy McAlister up for a well taken goal.
This gave the Garron Tower girls renewed hope, and the gap was down to a single point (1-3 to 1-2), but St Pat’s finished the first half with a flourish hitting five points without reply, two of them from Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey and two from free taker Carla Collins to go six clear by the time match referee Milligan blew the half time whistle.
The gap was cut back to five when McNeil pointed a St Killian’s free soon after the restart but when top scorer Aoibh Mulholland got her team’s second goal soon afterwards it was all over, bar the shouting.
St Killian’s battled to the end but there was no way back for the north Antrim girls and St Pats go through to yet another All Ireland semi-final where they will face Kilkenny and Leinster champions Loreto in two weeks’ time.
St Patrick’s : Maria Hughes, Aoife McWilliams, Eimear Doherty, Brannagh Brolly, Rhianna Doherty, Eimear Murray, Cáit Conway, Orlaith Hull (0-1), Emma Quinn, Grace Kelly, Katie McCloskey (0-2), Cara Mallon, Caoimhe Chambers (1-0), Carla Collins (0-6, 3 frees), Aoibh Mulholland (1-3)
Subs: Leah Cassidy for C Mallon (19), MT McCullagh (0-1) for C Conway (ht),
St Killian’s: Louise Mulholland, Eimear Butler, Maeve McAlister, Leona Gillan, Aisling Mulholland capt., Abi McNeill, Laura Black, Cara O’Boyle (0-1), Kady McNeill, Orlaith McAlister (1-1), Eva McNeill (0-3 frees), Orlaith McCurry, Amy McAlister, Clodagh McPeake (0-1), Rhianna Black.
Subs: Erin McNaughton for E Butler (24), Ellie Jo Butler for R Black (40), Caoimhe Morgan for O McCurry (46)
Referee: B Milligan (Portaferry)
