Danske Bank Mageean Cup semi-final
St Killian’s Garron Tower 2-17 St Louis Ballymena 3-10
Mageean Cup holders St Killian’s were pushed the limit to hold off a great fightback by St Louis, Ballymena in Tuesday’s semi-final at Pairc Mhuir in Cushendall.
Leading by four at half time the Tower side had the lead out to seven at a stage in the second half, but St Louis kept battling and twice they had it back to within a goal. However the champions held on, even though they had to ride their luck a time or two, and set up a repeat of last year’s final against Cross & Passion at the Dub in just over a week’s time.
Both teams started slowly and the scores were hard to come by, but Caleb Smith gave St Louis a boost when he took advantage of a defensive slip by the holders to scramble the ball over the line from close range. St Killian’s got themselves back into the game with pointed frees by Thomas McLaughlin and one from a 65 by centre back Charlie McAuley. Two points by the excellent Jack Martin brought St Louis back to level but the Tower finished the half strongly and a Thomas McLaughlin goal sent them in at the break with a 1-07 to 1-03 lead.
St Louis struck fast after the break and a Jack Martin point had the gap back to three, but the Tower began to find a bit of form and two quick scores from centre forward Calum McIlwaine, one of them a great individual goal, swung the game in his team’s favour.
Two pointed frees from Cushendall’s Fionntan Bradley and a goal from Dunloy’s Luke McFerran brought St Louis back into a game, but the Tower stayed a goal ahead. When they stretched the gap out to seven with two points from McLaughlin frees, and one each from play by Canice McIntosh and Callagh Mooney they appeared to have weathered the storm, but St Louis kept up the pressure and a goal direct from a free from Fiontann Bradley brought them right back into the fight.
Centre back Charlie McAuley eased the pressure on the Tower with a great long range free, and though they should have sealed the win had they scored two easy tap-over points that were there for the taking they went for the glory option on each occasion and were relieved to hear the final whistle at St Louis fought hard for the goal they needed to bring the game to extra time.
St Killian’s: B Duncan, C McNaughton, C Ward, C McCann, A McCambridge, C McAuley (0-3 frees), J Scullion, A Campbell, C Mooney – joint captain- (0-3), C McIntosh (0-1), C McIlwaine-joint captain- (1-2), O McCambridge (0-2), N McLaughlin, T McLaughlin (1-6, 0-5 frees), C Leech.
Sub: M Furey for N McLaughlin (42)
St Louis: C McFerran, A Doherty, S óg Blaney capt, R McClements, D Kinsella, D McKay, S McDermott, J Martin (0-4), T Bonnes, L McFerran (1-0), D McLarnon, F Bradley (1-5, 1-4 frees), J McAlonan, C Smith (1-1), J McGarry.
Subs: C Cunning for R McClements (41), C McCollum for D McLarnon (45), E Curry for J McAlonan (45), G McFadden for D Kinsella (55)
Referee: Colm McDonnell
TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW