Football

MacLarnon Cup final should be a high-scoring affair

Peter McEniff and Shane McDevitt of St Eunan's, Letterkenny in action against Loreto, Coleraine in this year's McLarnon Cup quarter-final at Owenbeg Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Peter McEniff and Shane McDevitt of St Eunan's, Letterkenny in action against Loreto, Coleraine in this year's McLarnon Cup quarter-final at Owenbeg Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Peter McEniff and Shane McDevitt of St Eunan's, Letterkenny in action against Loreto, Coleraine in this year's McLarnon Cup quarter-final at Owenbeg Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

Danske Bank Dr MacLarnon Cup final: Holy Trinity, Cookstown v St Eunan’s, Letterkenny (Monday, Athletic Grounds, 11.15am)

HOLY Trinity, Cookstown lost their one and only Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup final two years ago to a very useful Patrician High, Carrickmacross side that has gone on to establish itself at MacRory level.

Two years earlier, St Eunan’s had collected a fifth title when a Daire McDaid penalty was enough to give them a two-point win over Scoileanna Inis Eoghain.

Three weeks ago, St Eunan’s beat the same opposition by two points to claim their place in this final – although Inis Eoghain scoring the last four points put a different complexion on a scoreboard that had been kept ticking over nicely by the Sentry Hill side’s fluent attack.

Pauric McGettigan, Shane McDevitt and Brian Diver had big games for St Eunan’s that day, with McGettigan scoring the opening goal from a superb run through the centre. Oisin Purdy quickly added a second, getting on the end of a good team move to fist the ball to the net.

While Inis Eoghain reeled them in a little towards the end, St Eunan’s were still in control, with McGettigan a huge presence in midfield, Conor O’Donnell dangerous up front and the defence fairly compact throughout with goalie Eoghan O’Boyle, James Kelly, Shane McDevitt and Schools’ Allstar Brian Diver all prominent.

Holy Trinity led from pillar to post in a 1-13 to 0-11 quarter-final victory over St Patrick’s, Downpatrick after a goal from Kyran Robinson in the fourth minute.

And there were no shortage of goals in their semi-final, although a 5-7 to 0-7 victory over Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s, Knock flattered them a little.

Shane Murphy hit two of the goals and there was one each for the Mackles – Tiarnan and Thomas – as well as central defender Caolan Cunningham.

That avenged a single point league defeat in which Knock had scored five goals, while Castleblayney also claimed a victory over Cookstown, beating them 3-14 to 0-4 in the opening game.

St Eunan’s also lost on the opening day – a one-point reverse against St Louis, Ballymena – but since then Letterkenny have been consistently hitting decent totals, while Holy Trinity only seemed to pick up consistency around the time of the Knock league game. They scored 2-16 to Knock’s 5-8 that day not bad scoring in defeat.

That was the last game in which they conceded a goal, and this undoubtedly has contributed significantly to them reaching the decider again – although it has to be pointed out that this group had potential as they lost a Rafferty Cup decider two seasons ago to St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley.

As the competition has progressed both teams have improved in their shape, style and ability to create and execute chances up front and there is a feeling that it can become, like last year’s decider, a scoring feast when Ballygawley took their first title by beating Castleblaney 1-19 to 2-10).

The fact that it is a game between schools from Tyrone and Donegal, coming after last weekend’s Allianz League encounter, will add another dimension to the final.

There would be huge excitement should Cookstown make the breakthrough at this level, but Letterkenny have delivered on an occasion like this in the recent past and, if they can keep the game tight at the back, they can win title number six.