Football

Maghera the form team heading into McNamee Cup final

Danske Bank McNamee Cup final: St Patrick’s, Maghera v St Killian’s, Garron Tower (tomorrow, Ballymena, 3pm)

EXACTLY a year ago to the day, St Killian’s brought the first Danske Bank MacNamee Cup to Garron Tower in a quarter of a century, defeating St Patrick’s Maghera by 2-12 to 0-5.

Both schools have made it back to the decider, but this time St Patrick’s are being tipped as the team to lift the title following a strong run through the qualifiers that included a 3-6 to 2-7 win over St Killian’s.

Maghera were more impressive in winning the Danske Bank Thompson Shield in June, but that league win over St Killian’s gave the Antrim coast team an extra game in the competition and it seems to have benefited them with a high-scoring quarter-final win over Cross and Passion and then a hard-fought 3-12 to 4-6 defeat of Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s, Knock last Tuesday.

However, the semi-final also flagged up a flaw in that they tend to struggle with more physically imposing teams and their final opponents are just that. There is no doubting the hurling skills of the Tower boys but, apart from one or two, they can struggle with bigger players in the tackle.

Sean McIntosh is their only player to have started last year’s final, but others such as Padraig McKillop, Niall McGarrell and Daniel Kearney came in regularly as subs during that campaign and all four are key parts in St Killian’s defence of the title.

Younger players such as the McSparran twins, Joe McNaughton and Francis McCormick have come in this season to nail down starting spots. But Maghera scored 9-13 in winning their semi-final and will be a big obstacle in the final.

They have no fewer than five players who started the final last Halloween – Raymond Dillon and Shea McKenna in defence, Jody McDermott at midfield and Callum O’Kane and Niall Duggan up front – and that experience has stood to them in this season’s campaign.

McDermott hit an impressive 3-6 in the semi-final and how St Killian’s cope with him could have a big bearing on the eventual outcome. Garron Tower might be holders and determined to keep a grip on the Cup – but Maghera have had the more impressive run to the final and should win back the title.