Timing perfect as St. Mary’s leave it late to defeat Ballygawley in Rafferty Cup Play-Off

Danske Bank Rafferty Cup, Play-Off

St. Marys CBGS 2-15-1-17 St Ciaran’s Ballygawley

From Kevin Herron at Aghagallon

A late own-goal saw St. Mary’s CBGS battle back and lead for the first and only time in their 2-15-1-17 Play-Off win over St Ciaran’s Ballygawley in the Danske Bank Rafferty Cup clash at Aghagallon on Tuesday afternoon.

The Tyrone natives settled quickest and racked up four unanswered points in the early stages.

James Hurson clipped over the first two, Ethan McCarron’s high shot dropped between the posts and Hurson turned provider for Mark McDermott to add a further score in a dominant opening.

In response Padraig Kelly landed St. Mary’s first score of the afternoon, a second followed through Matthew O’Neill and a close range Kelly free reduced arrears to the bare minimum.

Free-takers Hurson and Kelly traded placed balls, and two points from play were then exchanged, first when James McGinley slipped in Sean Winters whose shot flashed over the bar with the goal at his mercy, at the other end Jude Burns played a one-two with Sean McMullan and fisted over to make it 0-6-0-5.

Ballygalwey talisman Hurson clipped over an angled point for his fourth point of the half and things got better when his low shot found the net, despite the best efforts of Conan Mulligan- giving his side a 1-7-0-5 lead.

St. Mary’s temporarily broke St Ciaran’s momentum when Darragh O’Sullivan picked out Gerard Delaney for a point, though James Hurson landed a magnificent two-pointed attempt that pushed the advantage to six.

A converted two-pointed free from Padraig Kelly gave his side a much needed lift and shortly afterwards the Glen Road outfit found the net.

Darragh O’Sullivan carried the ball from defence and play was switched to Cristoir McCabe who played a one-two with shot low past Jude Jordan in the St Ciaran’s goal to ensure the narrowest of margins separated the sides at the interval (1-9-1-8).

The second half began much more evenly than the first, Cahair McGill shot over and extended his side’s lead, only for Oliver Fay to send a quickly taken free into Cristoir McCabe’s path and a point followed.

Padraig Kelly swung over a leveller for Matthew O’Neill’s pass, but his side were unable to forge ahead and needed to show their bouncebackability in several occasions.

Mark McDermott edged the Tyrone men in front again, only for Kelly to kick his third free of the afternoon.

Further points were traded after James McAnely swung a shot over and Kelly landed a 45’ to make it 1-12 apiece.

It took St Ciaran’s talisman James Hurson until the final quarter of an hour to add to his 1-6 amassed in the opening period- clipping over a point after intercepting a loose pass across the face of goal.

The margins widened thanks to an Ethan McCarron point, though Padraig Kelly kicked his second two pointed free of the day to draw the sides level at 1-14 all.

Try as they might, St. Mary’s were unable to take the lead as Ballygawley pushed for home. Mark McDermott converted a free, Darragh McVeigh popped over to restore their two-point advantage and Cahair McGill landed a fine angled point that looked to have got the job done.

A second Cristoir McCabe point of the afternoon ensured that St. Mary’s had hope, however time was quickly elapsing.

It looked as though their chance had passed them by when Darragh O’Sullivan carried the ball towards goal and switched to Jude Burns- though a square ball infringement saw the attack falter.

The Glen Road side’s timing was impeccable as they hit the front for the very first time in the 60th minute.

Padraig Kelly drove in from the byline and cut the ball back to the small square where an attempted palm towards goal saw the ball spin off the boot of a St Ciaran’s player in an attempt to clear and find the bottom corner to make it 2-15-1-17.

St. Mary’s broke the resulting kick out and missed the opportunity to add to their slender lead, with St Ciaran’s working the ball towards the edge of the arc in an attempt to force extra time as the very least, but St. Mary’s held out and booked their place in the last eight where they will meet St Eunan’s Letterkenny.