Danske Bank Mageean Cup Final
St Killian’s Garron Tower 0-13-1-16 Cross and Passion
Kevin Herron reports from the Dub
Padraig Martin’s 51st minute strike took the wind out of St Killian’s second half fightback as Cross and Passion extracted revenge for defeat in the 2023 decider back in January and lifted the Danske Bank Mageean Cup for the 11th time in their history with a 1-16-0-13 win over holders St Killian’s in Tuesday evenings re-arranged decider at the Dub.
Playing with a strong breeze in the opening half Cross and Passion dominated the early scoring with Roan McGarry opening the evenings scoring from a 65’ and Conor Donnelly doubling the lead. McGarry doubled his account from a long range free and pointed from play before Oran McCambridge opened the scoring for the holders.
Cross and Passion restored their four-point advantage through a nice Oisin McCallin point- the first of four he would claim in the opening half hour, adding another angled point midway through the half.
18-minutes in and the lead extended to six after McGarry chalked up his third placed ball of the evening.
Points were traded between Callagh Mooney and McGarry (free) and by the 22nd minute Cross and Passion had opened up an eight-point advantage (0-10-0-02) following Oisin McCallin and Caedan Crawford adding further scores but Garron Tower ended the half stronger and clipped over three of the final four points.
Thomas McLaughlin slipped in Canice McIntosh to drop a shot over and McLaughlin then intercepted and opened up his account for the evening.
McCallin and Nicholas McLaughlin traded injury time points to close out the half as Cross and Passion held a 0-11-0-05 advantage at the interval.
An early side-line cut from Ronan Fitzgerald ensured that Cross and Passion struck first after the restart and things may have got better when Caedan Crawford bore down on goal and saw his goal-bound shot blocked by Ben Duncan and then scrambled clear in the nick of time.
Thomas McLaughlin replied from a free on the 37th minute and a long-range point followed from Oran McCambridge as the holders cut the deficit and clawed their way back into proceedings.
A superb Calum McIlwaine point from play lifted Garron Tower’s confidence and despite Padraig Martin pointing midway through the half for the leaders, momentum was with the Tower as Thomas McLaughlin reeled off three points on the bounce, the first from play and the other two from frees.
The defining score arrived on the 51st minute with the gap down to just two. Padraig Martin received a cut back from the by-line and rocketed a shot into the roof of the net past Ben Duncan to make it 1-13-0-11.
An instant response followed in the form of a Thomas McLaughlin point from play, but St Killian’s needed a goal in order to breathe new life into their challenge.
Their best chance came when substitute Michael Fury decided to make a break for the target and his attempt was diverted behind by Cross and Passion keeper Anthony Mullan.
Instead, the Ballycastle men finished strongly courtesy of points from goal scorer Martin, the lively Oisin McCallin and a converted Ronan McGarry free – with Oran McCambridge claiming a late consolation score.
Peter Owens final whistle was greeted by the obligatory pitch invasion from the Cross and Passion fans as they celebrated becoming Mageean Cup winners for the 11th time and they will hope to match the success of the dethroned holders when they compete in the Paddy Buggy Cup in 2025.
St Killian’s Garron Tower: B Duncan, C McNaughton, C Ward, C McCann, A McCambridge, C McAuley, J Scullion, A Campbell, C Mooney (0-1), C McIntosh (0-1), C McIlwaine (0-1), O McCambridge (0-3), N McLaughlin (0-1), T McLaughlin (0-6, 0-4f), C Leech. Subs: D McNaughton for N McLaughlin (45), M Fury (57), O Gillan for C Leech (60+1).
Cross and Passion: A Mullan, D Kinney, C Baudant, N McLean, R Cunning, L Glackin, A Kelly, D Donnelly, R Fitzgerald (0-1s), E Johnson, C Donnelly (0-1), P Martin(1-2), O McCallin (0-5), R McGarry (0-6, 0-5f), C Crawford (0-1). Subs: C Johnson for C Donnelly (46), A Richmond for C Crawford (57).
Referee: Peter Owens (Down)
Pic by Sean Trowlen
TO SEE ALL THE PICS FROM THE MAGEEAN FINAL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW