Danske Bank Mageean Cup, Quarter-final
St. Killan’s 5-20-1-10 St. Mary’s CBGS
Kevin Herron reports from Ahoghill
ALREADY 1-12-1-05 ahead at the break, holders St Killian’s turned on the style in the second period and cruised into the semi-final of the Danske Bank Mageean Cup with a 5-20-1-10 victory over St. Mary’s at Ahoghill on Thursday afternoon.
The holders settled into the quarter-final clash nicely with Thomas McLaughlin converting an early free and Calum McIlwaine and Callagh Mooney adding points from play.
Sean Og McLaren landed St. Mary’s first point from a converted angled free and a close-range effort from the placed ball moments later was rifled to the net to give his side the lead for the only time in the game.
It was short-lived however when Aodhan Campbell floated in a shot that sailed high into the top corner to give St Killian’s a 1-03-1-01 lead by the 10th minute.
McIlwaine and McLaren (free) traded points before Garron Tower hit seven unanswered points to take firm control.
Nicholas McLaughlin started the spree and added would add another in-between three successive points from Thomas- who would claim four in total with Canice McIntosh also finding range in the dominant period.
St. Mary’s would rally as the half drew to its conclusion as Sean Og McLaren landed another two frees and midfielder Darren Delander pulled off a magnificent long-range point, with Callagh Mooney doubling his account between times to ensure that Killian’s led 1-12-1-05 at the break.
Thomas McLaughlin clipped over his sixth point of the afternoon to extend his sides lead shortly after the break and things soon got better when Joe McKay’s shot was parried by Eoghan Millar and Nicholas McLaughlin scrambled home at the rebound to make it 2-13-1-05.
McLaren (free) and Darren Delander hit back with successive scores, but Charlie McAuley landed a free from range and Canice McIntosh swung over his second point from play.
The wind was taken out of St. Mary’s sails on the 43rd minute as Nicholas McLaughlin’s low shot crashed off the post and Calum McIlwaine reacted quickest to divert the ball to the net and open up a 3-15-1-07 advantage.
Substitute Dylan McNaughton made an immediate impact with a point upon his introduction with Sean Og McLaren sending over his seventh point from the placed ball for the afternoon.
Two-goals in the space of two minutes placed further daylight between the sides with Thomas McLaughlin claiming his first major and Joe McKay lashing home another.
St. Mary’s may have added a second goal late-on, but Caolan Wilson saw his 21-yard free flash past the post in what would have been scant consolation.
Garron Tower talisman McLaughlin provided another two scores and Calum McIlwaine popped over his third of the afternoon with substitute Oisin Boyle pointing for St. Mary’s before the afternoon was out.
In the end, the Champions powerfully swotted off the Glen Road outfits challenge and advanced to the last four to keep their hopes of retaining the Mageean Cup alive and well.
St Killian’s: B Duncan,C McNaughton, C Ward, C McCann, D Higgins, C McAuley (0-1f), J Scullion, A Campbell (1-0), C Mooney (0-2), M Furey, C McIlwaine (1-3), C McIntosh (0-2), O Gillan, T McLaughlin (1-8, 2f), N McLaughlin (1-2). Subs: C Leech for M Furey (HT), J McKay (1-0) for O Gillan (HT), J Kearney for A Campbell (41), D McLaughlin for N McLaughlin (44), O McCambridge (0-1) for C McNaughton (46).
St. Mary’s CBGS: E Millar, E Kearney, M Marlow, F McKinney, C Short, E Walsh, C O’Neill, C Wilson, D Delander (0-2), S Cunningham, C Walsh, S Og McLaren (1-7f), J Gault, S Burns, M Murray. Subs: N May for J Gault (42), D Jemfrey for M Murray (42), O Boyle (0-1) for S Cunningham (45), C McCann for S Burns (55), K Grieves for S Og McLaren (55).
Referee: Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)
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