PATRICIAN, Carrickmacross helped make up for the disappointment of defeat in last season’s decider when they lifted the Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup at the Athletic Grounds on Thursday.
Brilliantly led by man of the match David Garland, who scored 1-8, the Monaghan lads were full value for their victory against a gallant Holy Trinity, Cookstown side and their manager Lorcan Keenan was delighted.
“It’s altogether different from twelve months ago when we were devastated to have lost,” he said.
“We probably should have been further in front at halftime but that has been the story throughout the campaign. But look, I’m delighted for the boys because they have worked hard for this and deserve it.”
While this was essentially a team display the manager had a special word of praise for the outstanding Garland: “That’s why he is captain,” said Keenan.
“I said to him before he went out that big players perform on big days and he certainly did that and I’m delighted for him.”
It was the Monaghan side who led 1-7 to 0-6 at the break but based on the possession they enjoyed they will feel that they should have been further in front. With David Garland looking very sharp up front they led by seven points at one stage until Holy Trinity got the last three scores of the half.
Captain David Mulgrew, who is on the Tyrone senior panel, opened the scoring in the second minute but last season’s beaten finalists were quickly on level terms with a well taken Garland score from an acute angle.
Conan McLernon edged the Tyrone school back in front from a free but then Patrician took control of proceedings. In the seventh minute they struck for a well-worked goal when Allan Kieran played the ball into Gavin McEnaney, who laid it back out for Andrew Woods to crash the ball to the net past goalkeeper Ben Gallagher.
McEnaney then turned sharply to split the posts before hard working half-back Stephen Finnegan got his name on the scoresheet. With Dean Connolly getting through a lot of work in midfield Patrician continued to put the Holy Trinity defence under pressure with Garland adding another brace of quality points. Wing half-back Matthew McGuigan got a much needed score for Holy Trinity but Patrician replied instantly through Ryan O’Connor before Garland’s fourth score of the half left it 1-7 to 0-3.
In the closing stages of the half Holy Trinity mounted a comeback with midfielder James Devlin weighing in with two quality points either side of one from McLernon to get themselves back into contention.
Two Tomas Carney points helped narrow the gap further on the restart but in the 39th minute the winners grabbed their second goal somewhat against the run of play, Garland on hand to finish to the net after Ryan O’Connor had been blocked twice.
To their credit, Holy Trinity responded with points from Mulgrew, McLernon and Devlin but that man Garland kept the scoreboard ticking over for Patrician. He completed the scoring from a 13-metre free, the only score not from play for the impressive winners.
