Danske Bank Mageean Cup, Section B Round 3
St. Pat’s Maghera 1-11-2-18 St. Mary’s CBGS
From Kevin Herron in Maghera
St. Mary’s CBGS claimed top spot in section B of the Mageean Cup with a 2-18-1-11 win over St Pat’s Maghera on Wednesday afternoon.
The weather conditions were far from ideal and led to a late venue switch with Slaughtneil unable to host the game as planned with the sides instead meeting in St Pat’s own school pitches.
It was the hosts that opened the scoring through an Owen O’Neill free, the first of many during the course of the contest.
In response Matthew Murray picked out Daire Jemfrey and he crashed home the game’s opening goal.
Better would come for the Belfast side as Lewis Rafferty rifled a second goal past Fionn Wallace.
A converted free followed and three points from play courtesy of Irlagh Rogan, Matthew Murray and Cormac Mulligan was establishing clear daylight.
Points were traded between free-takers O’Neill and Murray, both then added scores from play- O’Neill first after Sean O’Kane laid the ball off and his goal bound shot was deflected over Eoghan Millar’s crossbar- then Murray clipped over his third of the half.
The respective talisman were both on song again from the placed ball, Murray converting his second and O’Neill this time registering from a 65’.
As the half concluded Murray and O’Neill continued to add to their sides and their own respective tallies.
All of them came from frees, Murray landing back-to-back and O’Neill doing likewise, the half concluded with Murray clipping over his fifth to ensure his side were 2-10-0-6 ahead at the midway point.
Although Peadar Pio Peoples hit the opening score of the half for the hosts, St. Mary’s surged further clear after Matthew Murray opened his sides second half account from a free.
Points from play followed by Cormac McCann, Lewis Rafferty and Murray with Owen O’Neill replying from a free in between times.
Maghera gave themselves a lifeline in the 41st minute, O’Neill laid the ball off to Peoples who in turn slipped the ball to Sean O’Kane and he swept a low shot to the net to make it 2-15-1-8.
A quickfire second opportunity fell to Finn Cartin, though Lewis Rafferty stood firm and parried the goal bound effort.
A converted Owen O’Neill free had reduced arrears to single-figures, though Matthew Murray got St. Mary’s back on the scoring front.
Goal scorer Sean O’Kane clipped a free over and in reply Adam McCahey conjured up a splendid point.
Matthew Murray would bring his personal tally to 0-11 before the afternoon was out with Finn Cartin converting a late free to end the afternoon’s action.
The result saw St. Mary’s overtake the Derry side and Cross and Passion on scoring difference, though all sides will feature in the last-eight ties after the Halloween break.
