St Patrick’s Armagh win the Danske Bank Leopold Cup

St Patrick’s Armagh 1-17 | St Malachy’s Belfast 2-8 Mid Ulster Sports Arena

St Patrick’s Armagh finally ended years of heartbreak in the Danske Bank Leopold Cup, putting past final disappointments behind them with a decisive victory over St Malachy’s Belfast last night.

Despite a spirited second-half comeback from the Belfast side, St Patrick’s composure in the final quarter ensured they finally conquered what had become a “bogey” competition for the school.

First Half Dominance The Armagh side seized control early, producing a blistering first-half display. Cillian Rafferty was the standout performer in the opening period, prominent throughout and firing over four points from play.

He was ably supported by the accuracy of Charlie McGeown, who punished St Malachy’s indiscipline by converting five frees. This attacking dominance saw St Patrick’s head into the interval with a commanding lead of 0-14 to 1-5.

The St Malachy’s Rally St Malachy’s emerged from the break with renewed purpose, turning the game on its head within the first ten minutes of the restart. Spearheading the charge was Conor Stewart, who found the net for his second goal of the game and added a brace of