Cross & Passion College Ballycastle will go into Friday evening’s Danske Bank Mageean Cup final as favourites after winning all their games in the competition so far. In a repeat of last years’ decider the Convent face the holders, St Killian’s Garron Tower, a team who will fancy their chances of repeating last year’s success.
Both teams were grouped together in Group B, which had only three teams in it, but when they met each other in the second game in the round-robin series CPC came out victors by six points over their north Antrim rivals on a 3-16 to 3-10 scoreline in Cushendun. There was an element of shadow boxing about that game as both teams were missing a few players, but it was still a game both teams wanted to win.
CPC started their campaign with a big win over St Pat’s Maghera in Loughgiel back in early October but the Maghera boys were short a good few regulars on that occasion. However Joe Cassidy’s side scored 4-27 on the day, impressive shooting regardless of the opposition. The Derry team had started the game like a steam train, hitting five points without reply, but once the Ballycastle school settled they showed just what they were capable of as they led by 2-13 to 0-08 at half time, before pulling further clear in a dominant second half.
CPC: C Donnelly 3-3, C Crawford 1-4, O McCallin (2 frees) and P Martin (5 frees) 0-7 each, R Fitzgerald 0-3 (1 free), L Glackin 0-2 (1 free), O Conway 0-1.
CPC centre forward Conor Donnelly was the star of the show that day finish the game with 3-03 to his name, two of the goals coming in the first half. Their highly potent forward line really laid down a marker that day with Caedan Crawford adding 1-04, Oisin McCallin and Paidi Martin 0-07 each, while ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald 0-03 and team captain Liam Glackin 0-02
Cross & Passion 3-16 Garron Tower 3-10
CPC’s second game on Tuesday 8th October was against Friday’s opponents St Killian’s on a wet day in Cushendun which was not conducive to good hurling. Nevertheless both team hurled well with the Ballycastle boys winning out by six in the end.
St Killian’s failed to make best use of the driving rain at their back in the opening half and were slow to get started. Goals from Thomas McLaughlin and Odhran Gillan got them going late in the half, but CPC responded well as they hit back with two goals at the other end through Oisin McCallin and Conor Donnelly to reduce the gap to a single point at half time.
With the wind now in their favour most observers expected CPC to take control but St Killian’s dug in and both sides shared six points evenly during the next fifteen minutes. A Dylan McNaughton goal saw the Tower open up a four point gap and for a while looked like it could go either way, but just as they had done in last weeks’ opening game against St Pat’s Maghara, they were able to find and an extra gear when it was needed and scored freely in the last ten minutes, Conor Donnelly grabbing his second goal of the game, while McCallin, Roan McGarry and Ronan Fitzgerald all chipped in to give their team a six point win…. and a place in the semis.
Scorers
CPC C Donnelly 2-5; O McCallin 1-2; R McGarry 0-5 (0-4f); C Crawford, C Johnson & R Fitzgerald 0-1 each
St Killian’s T McLaughlin 1-5 (0-5f); O Gillan 1-1; D McNaughton 1-0; N McLaughlin, A Campbell, C Leech and C McIntosh 0-1 each
St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-12 St Pat’s Maghera 1-13
St Killian’s defeat to CPC meant they had to win their remaining game against St Pat’s Maghera if they were to go directly through to the knock-out stages. The teams met on Wednesday the 2nd at Pairc Mhuire Cushendall and though the holders won through in the end it was far from one-way traffic.
After an early exchange of points St Killian’s appeared to have lifted their game a notch when goals from Oran McCambridge and Dylan McNaughton appeared to put them in the driving seat. However they kept going for goals when easy points were there for the taking, though Michael Furey did manage to get a third goal just before the break which gave them what looked like a convincing 3-06 to 0-08 lead at the interval.
Things began to change after the break when the Derry side got on top and they slowly but surely closed the gap as Rian Collins continued his accurate free taking of the first half, while ONeill and McCloskey sent over points from play. When McCloskey cut in from the right to fire home a Maghera goal the gap was down to a single point and it appeared that St Pat’s were on their way to victory. However the Tower reacted well and a series of points from Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion, Thomas McLaughlin and Joe McKay saw them pull clear again to secure a quarter-final spot against St Louis.
Quarter final in Ahoghill
St Killian’s 5-20 St Mary’s CBGS 1-10
Already 1-12-1-05 ahead at the break, holders St Killian’s turned on the style in the second half their semi-final against St Mary’s CBGS and cruised into the semi-final of the Danske Bank Mageean Cup with a 5-20-1-10 victory at Ahoghill on November 7th.
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.
After the restart St Killian’s pushed on and 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 as the set up a semi-final clash with St Louis Ballymena.
Semi-final in Cushendall
St Killian’s 2-17 St Louis 3-10
St Killian’s were pushed to the limit to hold off a great fightback by St Louis, Ballymena in the 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.
St Louis were excellent on the day and pushed the holders to the limit and it took top displays from Colla Ward, Charlie McAuley, Callagh Mooney, Callum McIlwaine, Oran McCambridge and Thomas McLaughlin to get them over the line.
Semi-final in Porglenone
Cross & Passion 2 – 17 St Pat’s Maghera 0-08
On a bitterly cold evening under the floodlights in Portglenone, CPC had eight different scorers with full forward Roan McGarry top scoring with 0-7 beside his name at the end of the hour. Padraig Martin and Oisin McCallin were always a threat while Liam Glackin, Ronan Fitzgerald and Darragh Donnelly also impressed.
It wasn’t a perfect performance from CPC in the early stages but once Caedan Crawford got a brilliant opening goal they started to show St Pat’s held their own through the third quarter but CPC were always in control and Conor Donnelly put the icing on the cake with a fiercely struck second goal
Overall when you study the scoring stats and the results throughout the competition Cross & Passion go into to tomorrow nights final at favourites. The are unbeaten and have never been troubled in any of their games. They have beaten St Pat’s more convincingly than St Killian’s have, both in the round robin game and in the knock-out stages, plus they beat Friday night’s opponents. They have a star studded line up with scoring power all over the field. At the back goalkeeper Anthony Mullan, defenders Conan Johnston, Cian Baundant, Reece Cunning and team captain Liam Glackin would walk onto any team. Their midfield pairing of Ronan Fitzgerald and Darragh Donnelly are powerful are a very strong pairing while up front they have forwards of the highest caliber in Conor Donnelly, Padraig Martin; Oisin McCallin, Roan McGarry and Caedan Crawford.
However the holders St Killian’s are no slouches either. The have lost a couple of top men through injury in Daniel Kearney and Dairie Higgins but there still plenty of stars in Colla Ward, Conor McCann, John Scullion, Charlie McAuley. Midfielder Callagh Mooney is one of the brightest young stars in the county while up from Oran McCambridge, Calum McIlwaine, Michael Furey and Thomas McLaughlin are top class hurlers
CPC with start as favourites, and they deserve to be, but this game will be closer than most people think. The Dub arena is a tight little pitch and that might well have an effect on the outcome. Thankfully most of the players have some experience of playing there and for many this is their second year, and for a few of the St Killian’s side this could be their third final.
Overall is promises to be a great game. There is a wealth of talent on show so get along and give them your support.
