Danske Bank Rafferty Cup semi-final: St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley 3-12 St Malachy’s, Castlewellan 1-10
ST CIARAN’S, Ballygawley stunned St Malachy’s, Castlewellan with three goals in the opening 13 minutes of their Rafferty Cup semi-final in Clonmore on Friday.
Two of those scores came from the talented Daragh Canavan, the first an excellent turn and low shot after just three minutes. Thomas Hoy finished a well-worked move with goal number two in the seventh minute and Canavan added his second and the team’s third six minutes later.
St Malachy’s, who had been impressive in their run through the competition, found themselves 11 points down and still without a score. However, they steadied the ship with good play from the likes of Aidan McLoughlin, Tiarnán Noade, Conor McAnulty and Conor McCrickard, but were still 3-7 to 0-3 behind at the break.
There had been a slight breeze favouring Ballygawley in the opening half, but the main difference was the start they made and the movement in particular of their two inside players, Hoy and Canavan.
In the second-half, Castlewellan worked hard to break them down, McCrickard earning a penalty that Niall Cassidy converted and Noade pointing three frees. But Connor Quinn and his defence were well organised to counteract them and Canavan and Hoy kept the scoreboard ticking away up front.
The second semi-final, between another Tyrone school, Holy Trinity, Cookstown, and another St Malachy’s (Belfast) is scheduled for Monday at noon in Maghery.
