Danske Bank Mageean Cup
St Louis Ballymena 4-14 Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock 0-14
Goals made the difference between St Louis and their opponents Knock when the two sides met in the opening game in Group A of the Mageean Cup at Quinn Park Ballymena on Friday. Cushendall’s Fiontan Bradley and Loughgiel’s Caolan McCollum’s grabbed two goals apiece, their conversion rate proving more decisive than the visitors, who created plenty of chances, but they found goalkeeper Caolan McFerran in great form, three of the saves right out of the top drawer.
Both side took a little while to settle but Bradley pointed twice in the opening seven minutes to give St Louis a 0-3 to 0-1 lead and Domhnall McKay sent a long ball all the way to the net soon afterwards and St Louis kept a comfortable distance ahead and when Bradley grabbed a second goal soon afterwards St Louis pushed on to lead by 2-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Knock had their share of chances during the third quarter but could make kittle impact on the scoreboard, thanks in no small way to McFarran’s shot stopping ability between the posts.
At the other end half-time sub Caolán McCollmn showed how it should be done finding the target with ease to stretch his team’s lead, before Bradley put the icing on the cake with another well taken goal.
Next Thursday, Knock will have home venue against St Mary’s CBGS and the following day St Louis will travel to Slaughtneil to take on Gaelcholáiste. The much anticipated Group B tie between holders St Killian’s and Cross & Passion Ballycastle is on Tuesday afternoon in Cushendun.
St Louis: F Bradley (2-4, 0-1 free), C McFerran (1-3), D McKay (1-0), J Martin (0-3, 1 free) E Curry (0-2), D McLarnon and J McAlonan (0-1 each)
OL&SP Knock: L Blaney (0-8, 4 frees), F Kane (1 free) and D Pucci (0-2 each), R Donnelly and S O’Connell (0-1 each)
St Louis: Caolan McFerran, Aaron Doherty, Sean óg Blaney, Ryan McClements, Sean McDermott, Domhnall McKay, Damian Kinsella, Jack Martin, Tiarnan Bonnes, Fiontan Bradley, Dylan McLarnon, James McGarry, Eunan Curry, Caleb Smith, Jay McAnonan.
Subs: Caolán McCollum for J McGarry (ht), Jack McKeever for T Bonnes (44), Neil Rodgers for D McKay (45), Conor Loughran for E Curry (45), Charlie Cunning for S McDermott (51)
Knock: Cillian Ennis, Rory Keenan, Joe Dynes, Ronan Breen, Manus Gilmore, Mark Guest, Conor Boyle, Ronan Donnelly, Sean McCollum, Joseph Brannif, Liam Blaney, Shane O’Connell, Dara Pucci, Frank Kane, Tomás O’Brien
Subs: Ronan Kelly for T O’Brien (36), Tomas McCusker for R Keenan (39), Cillian Teague for R Breen (58)
Referree: Owen Elliott (All Saints)
Tuesday 8th October 2.30pm in Cushendun
Cross & Passion Ballycastle v St Killian’s Garron Tower
Thursday 10th 1.30pm in Knock
Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock v St Mary’s CBGS
Friday 11th 1.30pm in Slaughtneil:
Gaelcholáiste Dhoire v St Louis Ballymena
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