Football

Molloy edges it for St Louis Ballymena against St Eunan's

Eamon&nbsp;Fyfe (14) bursts through the St Eunan's defence to score the goal that sent St Louis on their road to victory in Saturday's MacLarnon Cup quarter-final at Owenbeg<br />&nbsp;
Eamon Fyfe (14) bursts through the St Eunan's defence to score the goal that sent St Louis on their road to victory in Saturday's MacLarnon Cup quarter-final at Owenbeg
 
Eamon Fyfe (14) bursts through the St Eunan's defence to score the goal that sent St Louis on their road to victory in Saturday's MacLarnon Cup quarter-final at Owenbeg
 

Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-final: St Eunan’s Letterkenny 0-8 St Louis Ballymena 1-6

Two points from Keelan Molloy in the last three minutes decided a low-scoring and exciting Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-final in Owenbeg on Saturday.

Niall O’Donnell, who fielded despite obviously carrying a knee injury, had given St Eunan’s Letterkenny the lead for the first time as the clock ticked away.

St Louis Ballymena seemed to be kicking themselves out of contention with three more wides around that time, bringing their tally to six in the second half as opposed to none from the Donegal men. 

However they persisted and Molloy scored a fine individual point when he zigzagged his way into position to level up the match at 0-8 to 1-5.

Then in injury-time the Dunloy forward scored a close range free and, with O’Donnell’s late effort dropping just short, it was the decisive score after 60+ minutes of play.

In hindsight, there were small things that went against St Eunan’s – the loss of midfielder Caoimhín Marley to injury, a routine free for O’Donnell in front of the posts to put them two ahead was cancelled by referee Joe Mulholland after some dissent from other Donegal forwards, and probably the Ballymena men engineering key scores at the right time.

St Louis started the better of the two sides and opened the scoring with points from Eoin Campbell and John Eddie Convery.

Although St Eunan’s levelled thanks to points from Odhrán McFadden and O’Donnell, an excellent individual goal from Eamon Fyfe on 21 minutes put the Ballymena side in control.

They turned around to get the advantage of the slight breeze 1-3 to 0-4 down and gradually edged their way back to evens at 0-7 to 1-4 with two O’Donnell scores and a long range effort from Marley.

St Eunan’s looked capable of pushing on when O’Donnell put them ahead, but Molloy changed things and has set up a semi-final tie for St Louis with Patrician High Carrickmacross.

St Louis: E Marquess; R McGarry, D Martin, M Laverty; C Lemon, C Kinsella, C Cunning; D McCormick, J McNaughton; S Duffin, R Kelly, E Campbell 0-1; JE Convery 0-2, 2f, E Fyfe 1-0, K Molloy 0-3, 2f. 

Subs: E Daly for Campbell (40), Colm Griffin for Kelly (50).

St Eunan’s: M Gallagher; C Callaghan, M McAteer, S Halvey; M McGroary, A Deeney, H O’Donnell; C Marley 0-2, K Kealy; N O’Donnell 0-5, 2f, J McSharry, C Kelly; O McFadden 0-1, P O’Brien, R Friel. 

Subs: R McLaughlin for Kealy (42), S Doherty for Marley (50).

Referee: Joe Mulholland (Derry)