Danske Bank Reihill Cup final
St Malachy’s, Castlewellan 3-14 Carndonagh Community School 2-11
A SCORING blitz that delivered a goal for Ciarán Owens and points each from four other St Malachy’s, Castlewellan players in the first five minutes of the second half changed the course of this game in MUSA, Cookstown yesterday.
Carndonagh Community School had been the dominant team in the opening half and should have been further ahead than 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.
The physically stronger Inisowen side hit the front with a goal in the eighth minute from Conor Kelly., although two excellent points from Padraic McAleenan and another from Logan Muldoon levelled matters at the halfway point.
Carndonagh hit the front again with two points each from Oisin Curran and Hugh McGinn, but they also brought their wides count to nine for the first half and Oisin McCann and Ruairí Óg Gallagher took advantage to close the gap to just two at the break.
That burst of 1-4 on the re-start gave Castlewellan the platform to take control. Carndonagh’s wides count continued to rise and it wasn’t until the 46th minute that McGinn added to their half-time score.
In the next attack, Ronan Hill goaled from a move down the right flank and, although McGinn responded with a goal direct from a free, Castlewellan pushed on with a point from Ethan Gallagher.
Odhrán Toner’s goal in the 52nd minute took them nine points clear and beyond a late surge from the Donegal side.
St Malachy’s C Owens, R Hill and O Toner 1-0 each, P McAleenan 0-4, L Muldoon 0-3, 2 free, O McCann and R Óg Gallagher 0-2 each, N McGrady, E Gallagher and P Owens 0-1 each
Carndonagh H McGinn 1-7, 1-6 frees, C McNelly 1-0, O Curran 0-2, R Butler and D O’Brien 0-1 each
Referee P Lagan (Derry)