St Pat’s lay down a marker

Danske Bank Mageean Cup – U19 Hurling

St Patrick’s Maghera 4-20 Cross & Passion Ballycastle 4-16

St Pat’s Maghera laid down a marker at Portglenone on Wednesday evening when they powered their way to an impressive victory over Mageean Cup holders Cross & Passion College Ballycastle and earn themselves a place in the semi-finals.

It was like CPC were hit by a steam roller in the opening quarter as St Pat’s sprung from the traps with a goal and a point in the opening minute, Daithi McCloskey raising the white flag and Rian Collins raising green seconds later. On three minutes Finn Cartin got goal number two as CPC were left chasing shadows as Ultan McCloskey made it three to stretch his team’s lead to 3-06 to 0-03 with just ten minutes on the clock.

CPC were rocking on the ropes but to their credit they showed character to steady the ship a little and Oisin McCallin picked off a couple of points, but Maghera came back with their team’s fourth goal. Liam McGarry threw the Convent a lifeline when he grabbed a goal but their defecit was still in double figures until Cadhan Crawford grabbed two quick goals to cut their arrears to seven by the time referee Tarlach Conway sounded the half time whistle.

If CPC were to get back into the game they need a good start to the second half and full forward Oisin McCallin provided it as he hit four of the first five points just after the turnaround. The gap was down to just three but Maghera were able to react to the pressure and they kept knocking over the points to stretch their advantage. There was six between the sides in the final minutes, but when substitute Paudi O’Kane batted the sliothar home from close range there was just a score between them. The Ballycastle college pushed hard for an equaliser but the St Pat’s defence held fast and a well taken point from substitute Rian Tohill added the insurance point to seal the win and make it two from two for his team, who beat their Derry neighbours Gaelcholáiste Dhoire at the weekend.

St Patrick’s: R Collins 2-4, 0-2fs, F Cartin 1-4, U McCloskey 1-1, P O’Kane 0-3, PJ Glover and D McCloskey 0-2 each, D O’Neill, N McNicholl, C Gallagher and R Tohill 0-1 each.

CPC: O McCallin 0-10 (6f), C Crawford 2-1, L McGarry 1-2, P O’Kane 1-0, E McKendry 0-2, L McConville and C Johnston 0-1 each