Football

Danske Bank MacRory Cup: Loye earns Paul’s a point

Shea Loye (right) scored 1-5 for St Paul’s, Bessbrook in their MacRory Cup draw with Dungannon yesterday, including a late equalising point
Shea Loye (right) scored 1-5 for St Paul’s, Bessbrook in their MacRory Cup draw with Dungannon yesterday, including a late equalising point Shea Loye (right) scored 1-5 for St Paul’s, Bessbrook in their MacRory Cup draw with Dungannon yesterday, including a late equalising point

Danske Bank MacRory Cup: St Patrick’s, Academy 3-7 St Paul’s, Bessbrook 2-10

BOTH sides will probably feel that they could have got more than a draw out of this interesting Danske Bank MacRory Cup game in Pearse Óg Park, Armagh yesterday afternoon.

Bessbrook looked in a good position at half-time – a goal up with the assistance of a gale-force wind for the second half. Yet they had to scramble a very late draw with a point from Shea Loye.

The Academy took the lead with a punched goal from Stephen Talbot early in added time, and Ciaran Gourley would have hoped they would hold out for their first win. But in terms of the overall game, he should feel happy enough.

The difference at half-time was a goal scored around 20 minutes in by Shea Loye that heped St Paul’s lead by 1-4 to 0-4 at the break.

Loye provided the opening score of the second half, but Stephen Talbot and Mark Donnelly responded for the Academy before they went into the lead with a goal from Eoghan Rankin.

A second Academy goal came courtesy of a penalty despatched by Paul Donaghy, but three points in a row for Bessbrook were followed by a goal from Ryan Hughes, latching on to a free from Ronan McGuiness.

A minute into added time, with St Paul’s two points up, Dungannon won a free just inside the 45; they played it quickly to Paul Donaghy who had got in behind the defence and his delivery into the centre was punched home by Talbot.

The lead was short-lived however as Loye brought his personal tally to 1-5 with a late equaliser.

Today (Saturday) there is just the one game – a key one in Garvaghy at 11am – St Colman’s Newry v St Mary’s Magherafelt.

Leadon TimberFrames Ulster Minor Hurling Tournament final: Dunloy Cúchulainn’s (Antrim) v Kevin Lynch’s (Derry)  (tomorrow, 1pm, Ballnascreen)

Last year, a young Dunloy Cúchulainn’s side were beaten by Slaughtneil who were clinching their second successive Leadon TimberFrames Ulster Minor Hurling title.

Twelve months on and Dunloy themselves are chasing a provincial minor double with tomorrow’s hurling final in Ballinascreen an opportunity for redemption.

Twelve of the starting side are back in harness and, after blitzing Ballygalget last Sunday to the tune of 8-15 to 0-8, they will start favourites to win their first title.

Traditionally Derry sides have fared much better than their Saffron counterparts in this tournament and Kevin Lynch’s are chasing a third title in a tournament now in its 20th season.

They too had a facile semi-final victory last Sunday, defeating Shield winners Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon by 1-15 to 0-4.

However, the Dungiven boys have been well beaten by Dunloy in the Antrim league this season and have a bit of ground to make up.

They have useful players in Odhran McKeever, the Higgins twins and Richie Mullan, but Dunloy, spearheaded by Sean Elliot, Conal Doherty-Cunning and Ronan Molly, are expected to have too much overall power and the cup should be heading to Antrim.