Danske Bank Gallagher Cup (hurling) semi-final
St Patrick’s, Maghera 3-13 Cross & Passion, Ballycastle 4-9
CHARLIE McAuley goaled in the first minute of this Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-final in Ballymena, but it was to be the only time that Cross & Passion were ahead of St Patrick’s as the Derry school pushed home wind advantage in that opening half to lead by 3-11 to 1-0 at the break.
The Maghera goals came from Seán Mulholland and then a brace from Don Mulholland. With Donncha Collins also accurate from frees and open play, Maghera dominated the first half hour.
A turnaround of sorts was expected for the second half, given the strength of the breeze, but I doubt if anyone could have forecast that the north Antrim boys would reel in the 17-point gap. But they very nearly did, with the defence holding tight to concede just a further two points to Collins from frees, and the forwards building up a head of steam.
CPC began to dominate the break ball and Pádaí O’Kane’s goal started the comeback. The Dunloy player added a second goal and two points from Patrick Campbell brought the gap down to four points.
Matthew Donnelly then drilled a free through the Maghera cover to the back of the net for CPC’s fourth goal. But that was the last action of the game and Maghera survived to go into next week’s final with St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast.
Scorers
St Patrick’s D Mulholland 2-2, S Mulholland 1-0, D Collins 0-7, J Conway, S McCormick, R O’Loughlin and D Hasson 0-1 each.
Cross & Passion P O’Kane 2-0, M Donnelly and C McAuley 1-2 each, P Campbell 0-2, D Lynn, R Elliott and C McCloskey 0-1 each.
Referee O Elliott
St Clare Cup semi-final
St Mary’s, Magherafelt 3-12 St Louis, Ballymena 1-3
ST Mary’s, Magherafelt pulled away during the second half in Bellaghy to set up a final date with St Patrick’s, Maghera in the St Clare Cup.
The result is significant in that it will be the first time in a decade that there will be no north Antrim involvement in a schools’ A grade camogie final.
St Louis, Ballymena put up stiff resistance in the opening half when they curtailed the wind-assisted winners of the group stages to a goal and six points. Rachel Gribben was the goal-scorer and she added two of the points, as did the excellent Eva Forbes.
Keeva McFerran and Roma Martin replied with points for St Louis and, with Clíodhna McKeever and Amber Anderson pushing forward from defence early in the second half, they closed the gap a little with a McFerran goal.
However, St Mary’s hit back with goals from Gribben and Forbes and, with Gráinne Oliver solid in goals, they pulled clear for a comfortable win.
Scorers
St Mary’s R Gribben 2-3, E Forbes 1-4, C Moore 0-2, E Cullen and G Doherty 0-1 each.
St Louis K McFerran 1-1, R Martin and C McKeever 0-1 each.
DEAN Mag Uirc, Carrickmore are through to a first-ever AB Trophies Shield final when they held on for a 1-9 to 2-5 win over St Dominic’s, Belfast. The Tyrone side led by six points at the interval, but that was whittled down to a single point during the second half.
