Football

Maghera firepower will be too much for Kerry outfit

NOT until the Hogan Cup series last year did St Patrick's College, Maghera begin to play with the flair and style that they had been threatening all year.

They ran up the highest total in a Hogan final, scoring an amazing 1-18 from open play.

This year they have shown that same style and intensity in almost all their knockout games and a fortnight ago they were very comfortable in controlling the semi-final against Coláiste Eoin.

Although the Dubliners worked well on closing out the stars of the MacRory Cup final on St Patrick's Day, others stepped up and ran the show. Coláiste Eoin crowded Conor Cassidy and Conor Glass in midfield and did a decent job on Danny Tallon at full-forward.

However, Maghera's defence completely nullified the threat of star man Conn Ó Ceallacháin. Their half-backs, Cathal Mulholland and Peter Hagan, kept driving forward, shooting three points themselves, but more importantly stretching the Dublin defence.

Maghera were in charge at the break in that game, but their decision to bring incisive score-getter Tallon into a deeper playmaking role meant that the game was played in the Coláiste Eoin half, with Conor Convery and Paul Gunning dictating terms.

Convery grabbed the headlines with his nine points, but in many ways Gunning was the star man with his unselfish running off the ball, creation of space and then the simple off-load to his club-mate for a score.

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne are coached by Kerry manager Eamon Fitzmaurice and another former Kerry star Tommy Griffin, and have won their third successive Corn Uí Mhuirí in Munster - quite an achievement for a school that hadn't appeared in a decider until 2011, when they lost the final to Coláiste Chríost Rí of Cork.

Some of the team have picked up three provincial medals now and, after defeats to St Michael's, Enniskillen two years ago and St Patrick's, Navan last year, have moved through to a Hogan final with a comfortable 2-11 to 2-2 win over St Gerald's, Castlebar.

As with Maghera, the star of the Munster final, full-forward Cathal Ó Bambaire, was well watched. After hitting 3-2 against De La Salle, Macroom he only scored a point against Castlebar.

And like the Maghera game, others stood up to the test. The Dingle side dominated the early stages, but were hit with two goals around the 20th minute to trail 0-5 to 2-0.

That changed dramatically just before the break with goals from Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh and Tomás Ó Sé and they controlled the rest of the game.

Barra Ó Súilleabháin in particular and Marc Ó Conchúir have done well at midfield and it will be interesting to see how they match up with the Derry pair, who have had a great season.

Ó Bambaire and Ó Sé are the big threats up front but, having seen how Maghera's defence can shepherd players out of scoring range, they will probably need more goals to unnerve the holders' defence.

Maghera have not conceded many goals, testament to that defence, but also to goalie Ciaran McCloy who has brought off a number of top-class saves.

Pobalscoil would seem to have a weakness at the back, conceding plenty of goals through the competition, including three in the Munster final and two more in the Hogan semi.

That is where Maghera may have the edge. They have three quality finishers in the full-forward line, and pace coming through from half-back.

They have delivered on the favourites' tag all year - no reason to doubt them now.

MATCH STATS

St Patrick's, Maghera: C McCloy; P McNeill, O Hegarty, C McNeill; C O'Doherty, P O'Hagan, C Mulholland; C Glass, C Cassidy; J Doherty, P McAtamney, M McGrath; P Gunning,

D Tallon, C Convery.

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne: D Ó Conchúir; C Ó Súilleabháin, B Ó Beaglaoich,

T Ó Súilleabháin; M Ó Flatharta,

C Ó Beaglaoich, S Ó Gairbhia;

B Ó Súilleabháin, M Ó Conchúir; R Ó Sé,

B Ó Raoil, S Ó Muircheartaigh;

C Ó Géibheannaigh, C Ó Bambaire, T Ó Sé.