Loughgiel v Sarsfields (Galway) – Croke Park, Dublin.
Saturday 17th December @ 6-30pm
“With the split season there were times you were turning up to training on a Sunday morning and there was maybe nine people at it and you were thinking, What am I doing here? But once the county was finished and the senior girls were back it all started to change and I could see there was definitely something here.”
Former Loughgiel and Antrim star ‘Duck’ McFadden speaks about being part of Benny Dillon’s management team this season, and how things have turned around
As a start to the build up to Sunday’s All Ireland Club hurling semi-final clash with Galway champions St Thomas at Croke Park, the Dunloy hurlers visited St Joseph’s Primary School on Wednesday where they were greeted by the pupils and staff, and school prinical Mr McGuckian. Dominic Dillon and Chrrisy McGilliagan representing the hurling management, joint captains Paul Shiels and Ryan Elliott attending for the team, Caoimhe Molloy for the Camogs, Anthony McQuillan for the Intermediate Football champions, plus club chairman James McKeague.
As is befitting for the time of year the club came bearing gifts, and the they marked the occasion by presenting every pupil in the school with a copy of the recently published children’s book My First Game, which the publishers have adapted for the Cuchullains club. To finish off the visit the pupils sang “Cuchullains Song” to speed their heroes on their way
Team captain Paul Shiels and club chairman James McKeague with their children who received coppies of My First Match for Dunloy
St Louis, Ballymena 2-14 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 0-17
Friday 9 December
Brendan McTaggart reports from The Dub Arena, Belfast
On a brisk night in the Dub Arena, St Louis and St Killian’s went to war with the Mageean Cup on the line. An hour of high drama, scintillating play and decisive scores followed and in the end, it was the Ballymena school who edged their rivals but this was a game that really could have went either way.
St Louis ability to create and take their goal chances proved to be the deciding factor. Both coming from joint captains, Ronan McCollum and Aodhan McGarry and both coming at either ends of the hour. McCollum’s major St Louis opening score while McGarry’s came with six minutes of the hour remaining. It gave St Louis an edge at the business end of the game in a second half that can only be described as a titanic tussle between two evenly matches sides.
St Killian’s Cormac McKeown is closed down by the St Louis half back line
McGarry and McCollum did the lion’s share of the scoring for St Louis with 2-13 between them. McGarry’s 1-8 obviously pivotal but his all-round play would have made him a worthy candidate for the man of the match award he collected. While McGarry and McCollum did the scoring, the work of the St Louis defence shouldn’t be underestimated. Francis McMullan, Darragh and Pearce Patterson excelling in the face of a St Killian’s onslaught while Jack McCloskey’s second half performance always gave St Louis hope and an outlet.
For St Killian’s, they’ll look at a period in the first half where after a bright start, they allowed St Louis to settle. Joseph McLaughlin top scored for them with three of his ten points coming from play and with six different scorers throughout, they had plenty of danger all over the pitch. McLaughlin formed part of a hugely impressive half forward line with Orrin O’Connor and Cormac McKeown who were certainly lively throughout and didn’t need a second invitation to take on their player and attack space.
Despite the concession of the early goal, St Killian’s probably edged the first half and dominated the early stages of the second half without much joy on the score board but they came undone in the closing stages when the brilliance of Jack McCloskey created the chance for McGarry to score the decisive score of the game.
St Killian’s started superbly and had two points on the board within two minutes of the first whistle. A couple of wides and a shot dropping into the hands of Caolan McFerran meant they didn’t get away from St Louis before the Ballymena school settled in to the game.
St Louis needed to get scores on the board to put any nerves at ease. With their first attack, the Ballymena school launched a long free to the heart of the St Killian’s defence from Pearce Patterson. McGarry collected and despite the close attentions of the St Killian’s defence, he passed the sliotar to McCollum and he doubled in the air first time to find the back of the net giving John V. Morgan no chance in goals.
St Killian’s responded well with a brace of scores from Cormac McKeown and McLaughlin (free) but St Louis found another gear. McGarry’s frees (three) and McCollum’s first point of the final made it four points unanswered before McLaughlin got the St Killian’s score board ticking again with a free in the 14th minute.
Jack Mccloskey in action during his team’s win
A superb score from Tom McFerran preceded another McGarry free to put four between the sides but St Killian’s struck back with four points unanswered of their own. McLaughlins frees (two) and a ’65 was added to by Orrin O’Connor. A brilliant touch and strike from O’Connor under pressure.
McGarry’s fifth point of the half edged St Louis ahead once more before McLaughlin (free) and Peadar McDonnell kept St Killian’s in touch. The sides were wasteful in the closing stages of the half but McGarry’s point at the death left the sides tied at 1-8 to 0-11 at the short whistle.
Like the first half, St Killian’s started the second on fire. McLaughlin opened the scoring in the second minute with his seventh point of the game, with the St Louis goal at his mercy, he elected for a point. McCollum had the same opportunity for St Louis at the other end of the pitch but his drive fizzed over the bar soon after.
St Louis Paudie Martin celebrates after Aodhan McGarry scored his team’s second goal
The sides went toe to toe with neither stepping back in a tussle for momentum that would give either side an edge. McLaughlin and McGarry’s frees pivotal while Cailin Devlin scored a point that would grace any pitch in Ireland in the 39th minute. St Killian’s were putting the St Louis defence under huge pressure but the Ballymena school were defensively superb and yielded little or no goal chances and with Jack McCloskey roaming around the middle third, they had an outlet who was causing plenty of problems for St Killian’s.
The sides were tied when McCloskey broke down the right. Collecting the sliotar from substitute Ryan O’Boyle, McCloskey sped clear of the St Killian’s defence. With St Killian’s ‘keeper Morgan in his sights, McCloskey’s effort was blocked but McGarry was first to the rebound and he made no mistake.
St Killian’s pushed for the goal that would revive their Mageean hopes at the death but they were met by a St Louis wall that was impregnatable.
McGarry fittingly had the final score of the game when he converted a free from his own ’45. A quite brilliant score in injury time that never looked like going anywhere else but over the bar.
St Louis bridge a seven year gap since their last win the competition, their third overall while St Killian’s wait to add to their 1964 title continues.
Aidy Quinn made it three out of three for St Louis on Friday night. He played on the team that won the school’s first Mageean in 1988, he was part of the management team when they won the second in 2015 and he was there again on Friday night as the chief flag bearer
TEAMS
StLouis: Caolan McFerran; Senan O’Boyle, Pearce Patterson, Luke McFerran; Kevin O’Boyle, Darragh Patterson, Francis McMullan; Tom McFerran, Joe McCormick; Jack McCloskey, Aodhan McGarry, Paudie Martin; Dara Martin, Sean Og Blaney, Ronan McCollum
Subs: Ryan O’Boyle for S Og Blaney (34); Barry McCloskey for J McCormick (39); Conor McKenna for S O’Boyle (inj)
Scorers: A McGarry 1-8 (7fs); R McCollum 1-5 (2fs); T McFerran 0-1
StKillian: John V. Morgan; Aidan McSparren, Mark McSparren, Callagh Mooney; Eamon Ward, Niall Magee, Cailin Devlin; Patrick McIlwaine, Austin Birt; Orrin O’Connor, Joseph McLaughlin, Cormac McKeown; Niall Hynds, Brogan O’Connor, Peadar McDonnell
Subs: Colla Ward for P McIlwaine (41); Killian McNaughton for A McSparren (47); Callum Mullan for B O’Connor (51); Patrick McIlwaine for P O’Donnell (57); Brogan O’Connor for O O’Connor (57)
Scorers: J McLaughlin 0-10 (6fs 1’65); O O’Connor 0-2; C McKeown 0-2; C Devlin 0-1; A Birt 0-1; P O’Donnell 0-1
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)
Aodhán McGarry receives the James O’Kane Memorial Trophy for his Man of the Match performance. Joint captains Aodhán McGarry and Ronan Mccollum pick up the Mageean Cup
All roads lead to the Dub on Friday evening for the final of the Mageean Cup, the highlight of any young hurlers’ school year, indeed the highlight of their school career. Only a select few get the chance of experiencing such an occasion, and even fewer get the chance coming away with the coveted trophy.
This time around St Louis Ballymena take on St Killian’s Garron Tower, two teams meeting for the first time in the decider. St Louis won their second Mageean just seven years ago but the Tower have to go right back to 1964 for their last success at this level
The two teams who line out on Friday know each other very well. Both are unbeaten this season and when they met each other in the league section of the completion they could not be separated. St Louis appeared to be coasting to a comfortable win that day in Fr Maginn Park Glenravel when they went seven clear entering the final quarter, but St Killian’s fought their way back, to hit eight of the last nine points, most of those coming from the stick of free taker Joseph McLaughlin. St Louis went back ahead in injury time and it took a last gasp point from play by McLaughlin to earn his team a share of the spoils. All Saints Aodhan McGarry provided the bulk of the scores that day for St Louis, while the ever dangerous Jack McCloskey was also to the fore.
Both sides went on to win the rest of the games in their group and qualify for the semi-finals, which were played last week. St Louis were impressive as they beat St Pat’s Maghera in their semi-final in Ahoghill, with Aodhan McGarry again leading the line as he hit 13 points, twelve of them from frees.
St Killian’s had a much tougher struggle against north Antrim neighbours Cross & Passion College in their semi-final in a game that was close and hard fought, but both sides underperformed on the day. The match ended in a three point win for the Tower by 1-10 to 1-7, but that scoreline is very low in modern day hurling and they will know they will have to be a lot more accurate if they are to get over the line on Friday night.
Both teams are full of talent and in Kevin O’Boyle, the Patterson twins, Aodhan McGarry, Ronan McCollum and Jack McCloskey they have players who could play on any team. St Killian’s also have their stars and in Callagh Mooney, Mark McSparran, Colla Ward, Orrin O’Connor, Jooseph McLaughlin and Cormac McKeown they have players with real star quality.
Overall St Louis have looked that little bit better all season and will probably start favourites with the bookies, but that won’t bother St Killians in the slightest. A lot will depend on the free takers as usual, but both sides are well served in that department. Nerves will play a big part in a game which will be the biggest in many of these players careers. Neither side will have any experience of playing a game under the lights, in the tight confines of the Dub Arena, and that can be hard to get used to. Let’s hope both teams get a few early scores to settle them down. If so we could be in for a classic.
St Louis won their first Mageean Cup title in 1988 with a runaway win over St Mary’s in the final in Glenariffe, but in the semi-final they were pushed all the way by Garron Tower at the same venue. Many of the Tower players on that team look back on this game as the one that denied them their chance of winning a Mageean medal, but St Louis, with the Gillan brothers Niall and Brian, whose father Dan had been a member of the Tower’s winning sides in the 1950s, denied them, Brian scoring 3-3 in a man of the match performance, while Niall grabbed a goal
My match report in the Ballymena Chronicle read……………….
St Louis pip the Tower in thrilling semi-final
St Louis 5-5 St MacNissi’s 3-8
By John McIlwaine
St Louis qualified for the final of the Mageean Cup when they beat St MacNissi’s Garron Tower by 5-4 to 3-8 in a cracking semi-final in Glenariffe, and now go forward to meet holders St Mary’s CBS in the final.
It may sound a much overused cliché but it is a pity there had to be a loser in this game. The Tower gave it everything they had as they turned in their best display of the season, but they squandered several chances during the second half when they had an abundance of possession. St Louis on the other hand were most economical in their use of the ball, none more so than right half forward Brian Gillan who scored 3-3.
But it was in defence that St Louis excelled, particularly in the second half. In full-back Declan Heggarty and centre back Kevin McCann they had two real stars that kept the opposition at bay when it seemed at times the Tower were taking control. McCann in particular really dominated his area, particularly in that second period, and though St MacNissi’s tried a few different permutation in attack they could not curb his effectiveness.
The Tower made an encouraging start and were ahead after three minutes when full forward Luke McBride found the net after a goalmouth scramble. In their first threatening attack St Louis showed their scoring power when centre half forward James McMullan fired to the net to level the score, but the Tower retook the lead with a point from McMullan’s Glenariffe club mate Shane McDonnell, who sent over a great point.
Brian Gillan opened his account with a goal in the 11th minute to give St Louis the lead, and though Rory McEldowney pulled one back from a free, Gillan increased the St Louis lead with point in the 14th minute and a goal in the 19th. Randall McDonnell and James McMullan exchanged points to keep the gat at five, but the Tower finished the half strongly in the dying minutes of the first half.
Brendan Wheeler knocked over a point in the 27th minute and then corner forward Aidan O’Neill took full advantage of a goalkeeping slip to fire to the net to close the gap to the minimum. However just on half time Brian Gillan sent over a point at the other end to give St Louis a two point cushion at the break.
The Tower came out with all guns blazing in the second half. With Shane McDonnell and Rory McEldowney dominating midfield they had the better of the exchanges in the first ten minutes. McEldowney kicked over a point in the 34th minute to cut the gap to the minimum and four minutes later Randall McDonnell brought the sides level with another well taken point. James McMullan had good effort for goal well saved by Frank McCaughan in the St MacNissi;s goal, before the Tower took the lead through a Conor Arthurs pointed free in the 43rd minute.
One minute later James McMullan soloed through the Tower defence and his cross was volleyed to the net by Brian Gillan to give St Louis back the lead, but Conor Arthurs responded with a goal at the other end to put the Tower back in front with only seven minutes left to play.
However that was to be the last time the Tower led and within a minute Niall Gillan showed that anything his brother can do he can do better as he fired home his team’s fifth goal. Not to be outdone Brian added a point one minute later to put St Louis two ahead, and though Conor Arthurs pulled a point back for St MacNissi’s that was as close as they would get as St Louis held out for a historic victory.
SCORERS
St Louis – Brian Gillan 3-3, James McMullan 1-1, Niall Gillan 1-0
G McGrath, A Quinn, D Heggarty, T McKeown, C Connolly, T McKeown, D Fyfe, T McAuley, K Kearney, K Quigley, J McMullan, B Gillan, G McCollum, J McGale, N Gillan.
ST MAC NISSIS
F McCaughan, C McNeill, N McAuley, RP Campbell, R Ferguson, P McSparran, P Campbell, R McEldowney, S McDonnell, G Delargy, L McBride, C Arthurs, B Wheeler, R McDonnell, A O’Neill. Referee – Brenan McGaughey (Ruairi Og)
