Danske Bank Mageean Cup, Quarter Final
St. Mary’s CBGS 2-29-2-13 St Patrick’s Keady
Report and Photos by Kevin Herron at Hannahstown
It will be an All-Antrim affair in the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Mageean Cup after St. Mary’s claimed the final vacant spot in the last four with a comfortable 2-29 to 2-13 win over St Patrick’s Keady at Hannahstown on Friday afternoon.
The Glen Road outfit stamped their authority from the outset as Matthew Murray pointed and then assisted in Iarlaith Rogan doubling the lead.
A converted Caoimhin Mone free from range had Keady off the mark, though Cormac Mulligan and Matthew Murray extended their sides advantage in response.
Se McConnell landed Keady’s second score of the half from the placed ball, though Daire Jemfrey sent over an angled point and Lewis Rafferty hit two scores in-between a converted Matthew Murray free to open up a 0-8-0-2 lead.
Keady’s first point from play was impressive from James Hamilton, points were exchanged between free-takers Murray and Se McConnell- however St. Mary’s were threatening to pull away.
Jay Gault helped himself to three of his side’s next four scores with Daire Jemfrey adding one in between.
A third converted Se McConnell free broke St. Mary’s momentum and in the 25th minute the opening goal of the game fell to the Armagh natives.
Caoimhin Mone’s free dropped invitingly to Charlie Baxter, and he picked his spot past Eoghan Millar to make it 0-13-1-5.
In reply, Iarlaith Rogan and Jay Gault increased their personal tallies, as did Se McConnell from the placed ball.
St. Mary’s finished the half strongly as Cormac Mulligan added two points either side of Matthew Murray accurately netting from a penalty.
With the last action of the half Se McConnell notched his fifth free of proceedings but St. Mary’s were firmly in the ascendancy and 1-17-1-7 to the good.
The Glen Road men surged further clear in the opening exchanges of the second period, Matthew Murray converted three placed balls, Cormac Mulligan dropped an angled shot over and in the 38th minute Lewis Rafferty crashed a low shot past Aaron Keenan to make it 2-21-1-7.
Keady eventually settled into proceedings again with Paul Grimes notching two points from play and a long range free from Caoimhin Mone between times, cutting the deficit.
The game was slightly more of an even contest approaching the final quarter, Jay Gault and Daire Jemfrey added to their sides advantage, but Keady substitute Eoghan Mallon cooly picked his spot low in the corner in the 47th minute to make it 2-23-2-10.
Se McConnell opened his second half account from the placed ball, with Cormac Mulligan then landing three scores without reply, two from play and the other from the placed ball in the absence of Matthew Murray.
A flurry of late points saw Cormac Mulligan, Lewis Rafferty and Jay Gault all add to their personal scoring tallies, whilst Shea McNaughton and Se McConnell added late consolation frees as St. Mary’s comfortably advanced to the last four and a meeting with St. Killian’s Garron Tower next Friday.
St. Mary’s scorers: Iarlaith Rogan (0-2), Matthew Murray (1-6, 1-4f), Jay Gault (0-6), Cormac Mulligan (0-9, 0-1f), Lewis Rafferty (1-3), Daire Jemfrey (0-3).
Keady scorers: Caoimhin Mone (0-2f), Se McConnell (0-7f), Charlie Baxter (1-0), Eoghan Mallon (1-0),James Hamilton (0-1), Shea McNaughton (0-1f), Paul Grimes (0-2).
REFEREE: John Dornan (DOWN)
More photos from the game can be accessesd below
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