Danske Bank Gallagher Cup Hurling
St Killian’s Garron Tower v St Colman’s Newry
St Killian’s Garron Tower controled the first-half of Friday’s Gallagher Cup quarter final against St Colman’s Newry at Mallusk Playing Fields. The Tower team took control from the throw-in and held the upper hand throughout the opening thirty minutes against a St Colmans who were playing in the A grade for the first time. In their round robin game against St Mary’s Belfast the Newry boys had played well but the this time out the Tower built a commanding 6-7 to 0-5 lead by half-time through clinical finishing, relentless pressure, and a flurry of late goals that left Newry with a mountain to climb.
St Colman’s kept battling away and in centre back Conor Daly, half forward Patrick McGuinness and and full-forward Austin Matthews they had players who coud mix it with the best of them, Matthews in particular showing well with four of his team’s first half points.
St Killian’s wasted no time asserting their authority in the early stages. Conor Haughey opened their account by splitting the posts for their first point, which was quickly followed by a major blow when Oliver Mooney rattled the net for the Tower’s opening goal. St Colman’s fought hard to stay in the contest and managed to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over during the first quarter. Austin opened their account with a well-struck free, though St Killian’s Lorcan McNaughton replied immediately to cancel it out with a fine point from play.
Newry then enjoyed their best spell of the half. when Austin hit scores from frees and play, followed by a good long range point from Conor Daly.
Despite St Colman’s resistance, the second quarter belonged entirely to St Killian’s as they shifted through the gears. McNaughton slotted over a point from play, settling the team before Terry McGuigan stepped up to strike a beautiful free from the 45-meter line out on the left wing. As the half neared the 30-minute mark, the floodgates truly opened, and the St Colman’s defense was overwhelmed by a quick succession of goals. Harry Blaney orchestrated a brilliant attacking move, doing all the hard work before offloading to number 13, who applied the finishing touch for a goal. Moments later, number 12 found space and fired home another goal for the Tower. Blaney, having been the provider moments earlier, then found the back of the net himself to cap off a blistering period of dominance.
With the half-time whistle approaching, St Killian’s showed no signs of letting up, adding further gloss to the scoreline. ‘Chopper’ Mooney added another point to his personal tally, and Tiernan McKeegan, Harry Blaney and Conor Haughey all getting on the scoreboard. As the referee blew the whistle for half-time, St Killian’s walked off the pitch with a highly commanding lead.
With the breeze behind them in the second half there was no stopping the Garraon Tower boys who went on to book their place in next week’s semi-final against St Pat’s Maghera.
St Colmans – Oisin Sheehan, Senan Quinn, Oisin McConville,Tiarnan Trainer, Ruairi Burns, Conor Day, Caelan Mc Court. Ryan Aulds, Ciaran Woods, James McCarthy, Luke Coulter, Patrick McGuinness, Joseph Matthews, Austin Matthews, and Dominic McGonigle.
St Killian’s – Sevie Trowlen, Michael McKillop, Aidan McDonnell, Allister McKay, James Nulty, Sean McAuley, Gerard Kelly, Oliver Mooney, Riley Steer, Lorcan McNaughton, Ruairi Delargy, Ryan Robbin, Tiernan McKeegan, Harry Blaney, Conor Haughey
Referee – Paul McDonnell
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