Danske Bank Pat King Cup final: Wednesday 2pm in Fintona: St Patrick's and St Brigid's, Claudy v Castleblayney College
HOLDERS St Patrick's and St Brigid's, Claudy might not start this afternoon’s Danske Bank Pat King Cup final as favourites after an impressive run from Castleblayney College has taken them into a first provincial final.
Their group performances resulted in straight wins and they therefore avoided the play-offs to go straight into the quarter-final where they enjoyed a comfortable 4-15 to 0-12 win over Mulroy College from Donegal.
It was a lot closer in the semi-final with St Clare’s, Ballyjamesduff even though the Monaghan side led by 1-10 to 0-5 at the break.
They seemed to be safely through only for a big last quarter from Ballyjamesduff that just came up short on a 2-13 to 4-6 score-line with a late point from Matthew Marron the difference.
Marron has been Castleblayney’s top-scorer through the competition and he landed 1-7 in the semi-final including a first half penalty.
Toome warriors Joseph, Thomas and Tom McMahon and Donaghmoyne pair Dean and Liam Martin are others who have played well on their run through the competition.
The Claudy side struggled for most of the competition but used last year’s winning experience to see them back into the decider.
The results of their group games pitched them into a play-off with St Patrick’s College, Dungannon and they needed extra time to edge home 2-13 to 1-15 and set up a quarter-final with St Aidan’s, Cootehill.
In that game they only scored 1-7 but it was enough to get into a semi-final with De La Salle, Downpatrick where they pulled away during the second half to record a 4-11 to 3-6 win in Allen Park, Antrim.
Midfielders Adam Murphy and Oisin Kearns-Madden scored goals in that game while Tiarnán O’Connor was a good target man at full-forward.
At times during the game however their defence was a bit open and Cahir Melaugh in goals brought off several good saves.
Those defensive gaps could be exploited by Castleblayney today and that might well deliver a first Ulster title to the Monaghan seat of learning.
Claudy: R McCormick, C McKinney, O Carton, B Cooke, D Johnston, C Donaghy, K Has-son, A Murphy, O Kearns-Madden, C Gormley, S Watson, J Kelly, T O’Connor, N McGon-agle, N Barr.
Subs: C Melaugh, J McCloskey, F O’Kane, R O’Neill, J Donaghy, J McGee, T Quirk, O Murphy, C Davies, D Moore.
Castleblayney: S McCully, Z McArdle, J McMahon, N McArdle, S McCooey, L Martin, C McEneaney, Tom McMahon, D McKenna, E Coleman, M Marron, D Shevlin, Thomas McMahon, N Rice, D Martin.
Subs: P McSkeane, J Fox, K Flanagan, J Watters, C Malone, M Comiskey
