Danske Bank Mageean Cup – Ulster Schools Senior Hurling
St Killian’s Garron Tower 4-11 vs 0-11 Gaelcholáiste Dhoire
Venue: Glenariffe
St Killian’s Garron Tower delivered a strong first half performance to see off Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in this Danske Bank Mageean Cup clash at Glenariffe. Despite both schools being on their Halloween holidays, the teams turned out for this rearranged fixture after last week’s scheduled meeting fell foul of the weather, and it was the Antrim school who made the most of the crisp conditions.
St Killian’s stamped their authority on the game from the throw-in, establishing a firm 2-4 to 0-2advantage by the 17th minute. Ben Duncan opened their account with accuracy from a free and a ’65. Conlaoth McNaughton was the driving force in attack, raising the game’s first green flag before Cahir McCambridge breached the Dhoire defence for a second goal. With Christy Leech and McNaughton also picking off points from play, St Killian’s were well in control early on.
Gaelcholáiste Dhoire relied heavily on their centre-forward Dylan Ó hEireamhóin to keep the scoreboard ticking, as he opened their account with a well-struck free. However, the Garron Tower men continued to surge forward. In the 23rd minute, Cahir McNaughton struck a beautiful point from play, which was quickly followed by a penalty awarded to St Killian’s. Conlaoth McNaughton made no mistake, dispatching the ball to the net for his second goal of the half.
Following a point from a free for St Killian’s and another placed-ball response from Dhoire’s Ó hEireamhóin
Cahir McCambridge plucked a fantastic catch from the sky and split the posts on the 30-minute mark. Conlaoth McNaughton and the Dhoire number 11 traded long-range frees in first-half injury time, leaving the half-time score at 3-8 to 0-5 in favour of St Killian’s.
The second half turned into a stop-start affair, dominated by free-taking. Gaelcholáiste Dhoire’s number 11 Ó hEireamhóin was in great form from placed balls, striking five frees over the bar throughout the half to keep his side’s tally moving.
At the other end, Conlaoth McNaughton mirrored that accuracy for St Killian’s. He converted a free in the 10th minute and launched a massive long-range effort in the 17th minute. Moments later, McNaughton nearly grabbed his third goal after a brilliant run and shot, but a superb save from the Dhoire goalkeeper resulted in the referee pulling the play back for an advantage, which McNaughton easily tapped over.
The highlight of the second half arrived in the 31st minute—in what was probably the only score from play in the entire second period. Dylan McNaughton played a perfectly measured ball inside to Conlaoth McNaughton, who finished with a great goal to complete his hat-trick and put the result entirely beyond doubt. Gaelcholáiste Dhoire’s Odhran Ó Cleirigh had the final say of the game, pointing a sharp free from out on the sideline, but St Killian’s ran out comfortable and deserved winners.
The result is unlikely to have any effect on the placing from the league stages and both teams will be back in action when the scools return next week
St Killian’s College: 1. Charlie McNaughton, 2. Rian Laverty, 3. Paddy Morgan, 4. Niall McKeown, 5. Dylan McNaughton, 6. Ben Duncan, 7. Ronan Magee, 8. Cadhan Grahan, 9. Kian McGarel, 10. Ciaran McCann, 11. Christy Leech, 12. Donnacha Laverty, 13. Cahir McNaughton, 14. Conlaoth McNaughton, 15. Cahir McCambridge.
Gaelcholáiste Dhoire: Odhrán Ó Giolláin, Killan Ó Dughaill Ó Cinneide, Cónan Ó Giolláin, Ailbhe Mac Conmidhe, Oisín Mag Uiginn, Emmett Mac Iomhair, Odhran Ó Cleirigh, Dylan Ó Ceallaigh, Aaron Mag Uiginn, Cormac Ó Catháin, Dylan Ó hEireamhóin, Fionn Ó Conaire, Brocan Ó Dughaill Ó Cinneide, Paudi Mac Ainmhire, Kian Ó Ceallaigh, Damhn.
