Danske Bank Mageean Cup
St Killian’s 5-12 | Keady 2-12
St Killian’s held off a spirited second half comeback by Ardscoil Phadraig Keady in Monday’s Danske Banke Mageean Cup game at Dunsilly.
With a strong breeze at their backs the Tower boys dominated the early stages, going ahead inside the first 30 seconds through midfielder Cadhan Graham, Only two minutes had elapsed when full-forward Dylan McNaughton pounced for their opening goal from close range. Jamie Laffan soon punished Keady with a point from an acute angle along the endline, and on eight minutes, Ciaran McCann went on a searing solo run through the middle before rifling an unstoppable shot to the back of the net.
St Killian’s were in full flow, and in the 14th minute, Donnacha Laverty finished off a sweeping team move for their third goal. Laverty was then forced off with an injury, with Dara Ward introduced into the attack.
Keady finally opened their account on 15 minutes through James Hamilton, followed two minutes later by another point from play to give the Armagh side a foothold. But St Killian’s hit back and on 22 minutes, corner-forward Cahir McCambridge rattled the net from close range. Moments later, wing-back Ronan Magee landed a long range point from out around the middle.
Caoimhín Mane showed Keady’s quality in the 25th minute with a sensational point from 60 metres, but Cahir McCambridge answered right back from out on the right wing, before Ronan Magee launched another stunning long-range effort between the uprights from inside his own half to send St Killian’s in 4-5 to 0-3 ahead at the break.
Keady emerged after the restart with all guns blazing. Charles Baxter clipped over the opening point of the half, and sharpshooter Sé McConnell fired over a free from distance. St Killian’s replied through midfielder Kian McSorley, but McConnell responded again for the visitor with an expertly taken midfield free.
St Killian’s centre-back Ben Duncan stood up to split the posts with a sweetly struck ’65, and Jamie Laffan added another from play, yet McConnell remained almost unplayable on the right wing for Keady, knocking over two good points from play.In the 13th minute of the half, St Killian’s effectively put the seal on the game with a piece of textbook combination play. Dylan McNaughton drove up the right and slipped a neat hand-pass inside to Jamie Laffan, who hammered the sliotar home for their fifth goal.
To their immense credit, Keady never threw in the towel. McConnell continued his personal scoring clinic with two more points, and Caoimhín Mane fired over a superb score from out the field. Keady got the goal their efforts deserved on 24 minutes when Mane drilled a 20-metre free directly into the net.
Quick points from Jamie Laffan and Ciaran McCann kept the scoreboard moving for St Killian’s, but Keady struck again with three minutes remaining when Charles Baxter finished to the net for their second major. When James Hamilton pointed seconds later, Keady had clawed the gap back to five.
St Killian’s kept their composure, however, and Cahir McCambridge settled any remaining nerves by firing over two late points to ensure the Garron Tower lads emerged deserved winners.
Scorers:
- St Killian’s:
- Jamie Laffan: 1-3
- Cahir McCambridge: 1-3
- Ciaran McCann: 1-1
- Dylan McNaughton: 1-0
- Donnacha Laverty: 1-0
- Ronan Magee: 0-2
- Cadhan Graham: 0-1
- Kian McSorley: 0-1
- Ben Duncan: 0-1 (0-1 ’65’)
- Keady:
- Caoimhín Mane 1-2 (1-0 free)
- Charles Baxter 1-1
- Sé McConnell 07 (0-2 frees)
- James Hamilton 0-2
St Killian’s:
- Charlie McNaughton
- Conor Kerr
- Christopher Leech
- Oliver Mowry
- Rian Laverty
- Ben Duncan
- Ronan Magee
- Cadhan Graham
- Kian McSorley
- Ciaran McCann
- Donnacha Laverty
- Charlie Black
- Cahir McCambridge
- Dylan McNaughton
- Jamie Laffan
Subs used: Cormac McMullan for Dylan McNaughton, Dara Ward for Donnacha Laverty, Eoin McNaughton for Charlie Black, PJ Kelly for Jamie Laffan, Nicholas Lolky for Rian Laverty.
Keady:
- Aaron Keenan
- Faolan McQuade
- Aaron Monaghan
- Harry Fox
- Jack Gormley
- Shea Monaghton
- Peter O’Callaghan
- Darragh McKee
- Keaton O’Shaughnessy / O’Hara
- Dan Sweeney
- Sé McConnell
- Caoimhín Mane
- Charles Baxter
- Paul Óg Grimes
- James Hamilton
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