Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup final:
St Patrick’s, Maghera 2-13 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 0-5
ST PATRICK’S, Maghera proved much too strong for St Killian’s, Garron Tower in the Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup final in Glenravel on Saturday morning.
They played with the aid of the blustery wind in the opening half and, through the accuracy of free-taker Richie Mullan, were 0-9 to 0-2 ahead at the turnover. Although that was not an unbeatable target for the Tower team, Mullan added his seventh point on the restart and was involved in the move in which Ruairi Rafferty set up Tiarnan McHugh for a 34th minute goal.
Mullan and the impressive Peadar McLaughlin opened the scoring for Maghera, but James Morgan sent over a great free from 65 metres in the ninth minute and, at 0-2 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter, the match was being well-contested.
Then, over the course of the next eight minutes, four frees from Mullan opened up a big gap. His only effort from open play in the 29th minute made it 0-8 to 0-1. Morgan fired over another super free from close on the sideline, but the elusive Ruairi Rafferty grabbed the poc out and pointed for the last score of the half.
The 1-1 early in the second half made the game safe for Maghera and they finish in style with Rafferty sending Mullan through to complete his Player of the Match performance with a simple goal in the 57th minute.
Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools’ Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan final: St Mark’s Warrenpoint 1-7 CBS Mitchelstown 0-11
ST MARK’S, Warrenpoint left themselves with too much to do in the second-half of this Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools’ Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan final in Newbridge on Saturday.
At the break, they trailed by 0-8 to just two frees from Tiarnan Rushe – and Mitchelstown had missed a penalty in the 14th minute. The Cork team got off to a brilliant second-half start as well with two points in the opening five minutes, before the south Down side settled and started to eat into the lead with a series of points including two from Ciaran Tinnelly.
However, Mitcheltown kept their shape well with the sweeper in place and still looked comfortable until injury time when a beautiful lofted pass from Rushe placed CJ Barr free for an easy goal. Things were frantic in the remaining minute or two, but the Munster champions held on to gratefully accept the cup for the first time.
The conditions made it a game of two halves and there was not much to separate the teams over the hour. Shane Annett played very well in his sweeper role in the first-half and goalie Dean Toner did well throughout particularly on kick outs.
Further out, Tiarnan Rushe, Ciaran Tinnelly and Shea Fitzpatrick all worked hard while the switch of CJ Barr to full forward caused the Cork defence some anxious moments.
MATCH STATS
St Mark’s: D Toner, M Doyle, C Fitzpatrick, C Killen, C Fegan, S Fitzpatrick, J McKernan (0-1), C Lowry, CJ Barr (1-0), S Annett, C Tinnelly (0-2), A Magee (0-1), P Smyth, C Owens, T Rushe (0-3, 0-1 free); Subs: J Grant for C Fegan, D Murdock for C Lowry
Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools’ Paul McGirr Cup final: St Mary’s, Edenderry 1-11 Patrician High, Carrickmacross 1-10
ST MARY'S, Edenderry came from behind to beat Patrician High, Carrickmacross at Pearse Park Longford on Saturday in the Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools’ final.
Andrew Woods' injury-time goal gave the Danske Bank Rannafast Cup holders a 1-3 to 0-4 lead at the interval after Edenderry corner forward James Carey had been red-carded. While exchanges throughout were evenly-matched, Patrician looked to be heading for the title when points from Sean Burns, Ciaran McNulty and Jack McMahon extended the Monaghan school's advantage to four points, 1-7 to 0-6, ten minutes into the second-half.
However, a goal from Jack Smith a short time later turned the tide in the Offaly school's favour. Edenderry then powered through to score a further five points without reply before late scores from Sean Burns (free), Andrew Woods and Liam óg Murray (all of whom had featured for the school MacLarnon Cup in their single point defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final on Wednesday) made for an exciting finish.
