St Patrick’s Maghera 4-16 St Mary’s CBGS Belfast 0-5
St Pat’s Maghera produced a quality performance in Wednesday’s Leonard Cup semi-final in Ahoghill to convincingly beat St Mary’s CBGS Belfast and set up an all Derry final against Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.
The Maghera boys struggled to put the scores on the board in the early stages, but once they got going they soon laid down a marker. St Mary’s were holding their own on the scoreboard but once left half forward Don Mulholland found the St Mary’s net it was clear that the Belfast side faced a major task.
Padraig Kelly hit back with a quick point for St Mary’s but St Patrick’s were begging to hit their stride and point from Mulholland, Hasson and Collins began to out space between the sides and when Maghera full forward Sean O’Hara burst through to kick the ball to the net to help his team to a nine point half time lead (2-6 to 0-3)
When O’Hara grabbed St Pat’s third goal one minute into the new half the only thing in question was the size of the winning margin. Things got worse for the Belfast side as Collins tagged on their more points from frees and Burke added two from play. Matthew O’Neill pulled a couple back for St Mary’s but St Pat’s were rampant at this stage and as they emptied the bench more players staked their claim for a starting place in the final, Aaron McGonigle grabbling his team’s fourth goal with a strong finish.
The win sets up an exciting final against their Derry neighbours Gaelcholáiste Dhoire, who impressed two weeks ago when beating Cross & Passion Ballycastle in the other semi-final.
St Patrick’s: S O’Hara 2-0, D Mulholland 1-2, A McGonigle 1-0, D Collins 0-8 (fs), O Burke 0-2, D Hasson and R O’Loughlin 0-1 each
St Mary’s: M O’Neill 0-3 (fs), P Kelly 0-2 (fs)
St Pats Maghera
F Wallace, C Duggan, D McKaigue, J Bradley, K Friel, D McEldowney, D McKenna, C McDonnell, S McCormick, D Mulholland, D Collins, O Burke, J Conway, S O’Hara, D Hasson.
Subs: R O’Loughlin for O Burke, B Bradley for D Hasson, T Leadon for J Conway, A McGonigle for D Mulholland.
ST Mary’s CBGS
D Gault, E Hughes, E Flynn, D Rainey, O Marley, M O’Neill, B McCaul, J Gamble, C Dempsey, R McIlhatton, F Smyth, O Kennedy, P Kelly, A McCahey, S McGarry.
Subs: T McCaughey for O Kennedy, F McKenna for R McIlhatton.
Four Masters are set to defend their Ulster minor crown this Sunday when they take on Scotstown of Monaghan in the third quarter-final of the fonan/CAB Ulster Minor Football Championship.
The three-in-a-row Donegal minor champions Four Masters won the Jimmy McConville Cup on New Year’s Day and they are back, hoping to be the first team to go back-to-back in defending the provincial championship since Glen did it over a decade ago.
“Any team you get up here you’re expecting a tough game but I suppose we’ll have a bit of a target on our backs because we won it last year, but we’ve been used to that in Donegal and we’ll be expecting the same up here but it’s good to be back and we’ll be giving it a good go,” Four Masters captain Callum McCrea said.
The competition returned to the U-18 this year in line with the GAA reverting the minor grade back to its traditional form and this in essence will mean that holders, Four Masters canfield the same team as last year.
Four Masters’ prominence in Donegal underage Gaelic Football continues apace after the Donegal Town club won their third Division 1 championship title in a row with a 2-10 to 1-11 victory over Naomh Conaill.
Standing in their way will be Scotstown of Monaghan who defeated Monaghan Harps in their county final and the Monaghan side will not be travelling to Belfast to make up the numbers and could ask some questions of the Donegal champions.
Daniel McGinty, Callum McCrea, Thomas Carr, Padraig McGonagle, Tiarnan McBride and Oisin Doherty will spearhead the Four Masters challenge on the Shaw’s Road while Darragh McMeel, Mark McCaffery, Max Maguire, Tommy Mallen and Sean Og McElwain will lead the Scotstown challenge.
A good start is half the battle and so it was for Coláiste Feirste in Tuesday’s Danske Bank Pat King Cup final at Mayobride as five scores without reply set them up for the win over St Joseph’s Crossmaglen.
Five unanswered points for the Falls Road outfit had them in a strong position after eighteen minutes, the points shared between Tomás Mac Adaim and Shae Mac Aoid, though the heroics of goalkeeper Fionn Ó Brannuibh was also a major factor in the excellent opening quarter, where defender Luke O’Dea and midfielder Ruairí Ó Scolláin also played a starring role.
Eightneen minute in Crossmaglen got themselves right back into the game when Josh King fired in a penalty but Coláiste Feirste kept the scoreboard ticking over with points from Nathan Mac Cionnaith and Séadhna Mac Conluain and despite the fact that the Armagh school got two more points Coláiste Feirste still led by 0-8 to 1-3 at the interval.
Nathan Mac Cionaoith, Ruairi O Scollain and Tomas Mac Adaim with the Pat King Cup
St Joseph’s came more into the game in the second half, but they simply couldn’t bridge the gap with Coláiste Feirste able to respond to every score from the Cross players.
There was just a point from each side during a low scoring third quarter, but over the next ten minutes the Belfast side stretched their lead to four points.
Cross scored three times over the final five minutes, but Coláiste Feirste held on for an historic victoryColáiste Feirste: T Mac Adaim 0-6, S Mac Aoidh 0-3, N Mac Cionnaith, S Mac Conluain and GS Ó Liatháin 0-1 each
St Joseph’s: J King 1-3, O Leneghan 0-2, T Fitzsimons and D McDonnell 0-1 each.
ON NOVEMBER 22nd 2019 CPC PRODUCED THE GOODS IN EXTRA TIME TO SEE OFF THE CHALLENGE OF ST MARY’S AT THE DUB ARENA. IT TOOK A MAGNIFICENT STRIKE FROM A MICHAEL O’BOYLE INJURY TIME FREE TO BRING THE GAME TO EXTRA TIME, BUT THE BALLYCASTLE SCHOOL REALLY TURNED IT ON IN EXTRA TIME AS THEY OUTSOCORED ST MARY’S BY 2-08 TO 0-00 IN THE TWENTY MINUTES THAT WERE ADDED
Danske Bank Mageean Cup final (AET)
CPC Ballycastle 3-18 St Mary’s CBGS 1-10
By John McIlwaine
Cross & Passion regained the Danske Bank Mageean Cup after a five year absence when they outscored their opponents St Mary’s CBGS 2-8 to 0-0 in a bizarre twenty minutes of extra time in Friday evening’s final at the Dub Arena. After trailing for most of the normal sixty minutes and looking second best for long periods it took a magnificent strike from a Michael O’Boyle injury time free from all of 80 meters to bring the game to extra time.
After watching the close nature of normal time the big crowd of supporters at the QUB venue must surely have been expecting extra time to continue in a similar vein, but incredibly CPC took complete control and when substitutes Conor O’Mullan and Cailin O’Connor grabbed goals during a blistering six minute spell which also produced five points, there was no way back for the luckless St Mary’s side. In the end fourteen points separated the teams as the shell shocked Glen Road side failed to raise a flag. It was one of those “If I hadn’t seen that with my own eyes I would not have believed it” events.
Substitute Caolan O’Connor jumps for joy after scoring his team’s third goal in the first period of extra time
Both teams looked nervous as the game got underway in slippery underfoot conditions. Despite a good start which saw corner forward Christy McGarry hit a fine opening point it was St Mary’s who had the better of the opening half. Gary McIlhatton brought St Mary’s level and though CPC responded well with points from Fergal McKiernan and Michael O’Boyle Dannan McKeogh and Coalan McKernan came back with two of St Mary’s to tie the scores at 3 apiece. Joe McToal picked off a neat point to edge the Ballycastle school ahead but St Mary’s hit the front when McKeogh fired a penalty to the CPC net to put his team 1-3 to 0-4 ahead.
Joe McToal reduced the gap to the minimum but St Mary’s hit back when
Daire Murphy sent over a free late in the half to send his team to the dressing
rooms at half time two points to the good on 1-4 to 0-5.
When St Mary’s increased their lead to three early in the second half with another pointed free from Murphy they appeared to be in a strong position but CPC responded well and points from a Michael O’Boyle free plus one from his Oisins club mate Shea McDonnell (who had just been introduced as a second half substitute) closed the gap to one. With Enda Og McGarry now operating at centre back for the Ballycastle school things began to happen for CPC and when McDonnell’s shot for goal was blocked down minutes later corner forward Rian McMullan drilled the ball low to the St Mary’s net.
Rian McMullan celebrates after scoring CPC’s opening goal
Two points in arrears St Mary’s responded well and after Murphy and O’Boyle traded points Caolan Duffin cut the gap to one before the excellent St Mary’s midfielder Eoin Trainor tied up the scores with a point from play. The Belfast boys then enjoyed a spell of dominance only to be denied by a brilliant save by CPC goalkeeper Tiernan Smyth and the width of the crossbar on another occasion. However they did hit points through Caolan McKernan and Caolan Duffin to go two ahead with five minutes of normal time still to play. It was backs to the wall time for CPC but to their credit they dug deep and two well struck points from Michael O’Boyle frees, the latter a magnificent strike, brought the game to extra time.
CPC’s Seamus McAuley receives the Man of the Match award
What unfolded during the first period of extra time was truly sensational as everything fell perfectly into place for CPC. Substitutes Conor O’Mullan and Cailin O’Connor plundered the goals and with the shackles off the points flowed with ease. The gap was out to eleven by half time and after the change of ends they added three more, the final one coming at the end of bursting run by Oggie McGarry that put the seal on the victory.
St Mary’s Caolan McKernan breaks out of defence
CROSS AND PASSION: T Smyth; R McClean, E McGarry (0-1), R Laverty; C
McGlynn, J McAllister, C McKinley; S McAuley (0-1), S Brogan; J McToal (0-2), F
McKiernan (0-3), M O’Boyle (0-6, all frees); R McMullan (1-2, 0-1 free), O
McGrath, C McGarry (0-1). Subs: D Devlin for S Brogan (HT), S McDonnell (0-2, 1
free)) for O McGrath (34), C O’Mullan (1-0) for J McToal (51), J McGowan for C
McKinley (59), C O’Connor (1-0) for J McAllister (60)
ST MARY’S: A Mullan, O May, D Murray, D Wilson; C Boyle, C McKernan (0-2
frees), D Churchill; E Trainor (0-1), A McLean; R Murray, G McIlhatton (0-1), D
Delaney; C Duffin (0-2), D Murphy (0-3 frees), D McKeogh (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1
free). Subs: R Crossan for D McKeogh (17), F Mervyn for A McLean (41).
St Killian’s Garron Tower 0-17 Cross and Passion 0-13
AS WE BUILD UP TO FRIDAY NIGHTS MAGEEAN CUP FINAL BETWEEN CROSS & PASSSION COLLEGE AND ST KILLIAN’S GARRON TOWER WE BEGIN BY LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR’S FINAL BETWEEN THE SAME TWO TEAM
Kevin Herron reports from the Dub
St Killian’s team captain Joseph McLaughlin lifts the Mageean Cup after his team’s win over CPC in Wednesday evening’s final at the Dub. Looking on is Oonagh Murtagh of tournament sponsors Danske Bank
St Killian’s Garron Tower bridged a 60-year gap and lifted the Danske Bank Mageean Cup for just the second time in their history after defeating Cross and Passion 0-17-0-13 in the final at the Dub on Wednesday evening.
Less than a month after the game was originally due to be played, conditions were ideal at the South Belfast venue as referee Colm McDonald got proceedings underway.
Cross and Passion were first off the mark after Colla Ward fouled Roan McGarry- who converted the resulting free, but St Killian’s replied instantly when goalkeeper Thomas McLaughlin picked out Cormac McKeown to drop over from range.
McKeown would draw a foul from Darragh Kelly and that allowed Orrin O’Connor to send the resulting free over and give their side the advantage that they would hold onto for the rest of the half.
Callagh Mooney extended the lead within 60-seconds before McLaughlin doubled his tally from play.
The Tower made it four without reply and for the second time McLaughlin linked up with Cormac McKeown with a similar outcome to the first time they combined.
Cross and Passion replied before the midway point in the half, Ronan Fitzgerald made himself available and collected a free before swinging over to reduce the deficit (0-05-0-02).
It failed to the shift the momentum that was firmly with Garron Tower and they added another four unanswered points.
Orrin O’Connor grabbed his third point of the half after turning over the Cross and Passion puck-out and finding a score from range.
Ruairi Og prodigy Joseph McLaughlin then added three scores on the spin, the first a fine angled effort before converting two frees that opened up a 0-09-0-02 lead.
Cross and Passion remained in touch and claimed four of the final five points in the half. Roan McGarry added two further frees and Liam Glackin produced a nice score in-between times.
Despite McLaughlin converting an injury-time free, Ronan Fitzgerald doubled his final tally with the last act of the half to ensure his side remained in touch, trailing 0-10-0-06 at the break.
CPC team captain Ben McGarry strikes a long range free Orrin O’Connor strikes an early Garron Tower free
Cross and Passion reduced arrears upon the resumption with Conor Donnelly floating over within 60-seconds of the restart.
Oran McCamrbidge instantly replied, and St Killian’s stole a march again and established a six-point lead by the 39th minute.
Niall Magee added a point from range and Cormac McKeown brought his personal tally to 0-03 with an excellent score that had his side 0-13-0-07 ahead.
Cross and Passion free-taker Roan McGarry dropped over his first from play in response and Oisin McCallin then swung over after Ronan Fitzgerald dropped a high ball into the danger area.
Back-to-back scores from man of the match Cormac McKeown and talisman Joseph McLaughlin (free) opened up a six-point advantage again for St Killian’s with four minutes of normal time remaining, though Cross and Passion landed four without reply and ensured a grandstand finish was on the cards.
Ben and Roan McGarry dropped over back-to-back frees and on the 60th minute Ronan Fitzgerald landed a super point from play to make it a three-point game (0-15-0-12).
A further Ben McGarry free left it a single score game with two of the five minutes added on remaining.
St Killian’s held their nerve though and Joseph McLaughlin converted a free and dropped over an angled insurance score that ensured Garron Tower ran out winners at the final whistle and would lift their first Mageean title in 60-years.
CPC full back Cian Baudant solos clear of St Killian’s full forward Oran McCambridge during the Danske Bank Mageean Cup final at the DubFr Paddy Delargy, who was a member of the Garron Tower team who won the very first Mageean Cup back in 1963, is seen here withe the McLaughlin brothers Thomas (left) and Joseph.
St. Killian’s: T McLaughlin, C Ward, C Devlin, C Graham, A Birt, C McAuley, N Magee (0-01), C McIlwaine, C Mooney (0-01), C McKeown (0-04), J McLaughlin (0-07, 0-05f), O O’Connor. (0-03, 0-01f), P McDonnell, O McCambridge (0-01), N Hynds. Subs: F McKillop for P McDonnell (48), J Scullion for N Magee (60).
Cross and Passion: E Richmond,C Donnelly, C Baudant, J Magee, B O’Kane, B McGarry (0-02f), T McGarry, R Cunning, D Kelly, R Fitzgerald (0-03), L Glackin (0-01), P Martin, O McCallin (0-01), C Donnelly (0-01), R McGarry (0-05, 0-04f). Subs: C Crane for J Magee (26), A McGarry for T McGarry (48), G McToal for P Martin (51), C Crawford for O McCallin (54), P Martin for R Fitzgerald (60+3).
Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)
Man of the Match Cormac McKeown celebrates at the final whistle of Wednesday evening’s Mageean Cup final win over CPC at the Dub
