Sport

In The Irish News - Feb 3 1998: Marsden and Queen’s master Trinity challenge

Diarmaid Marsden celebrates after scoring for Armagh
Diarmaid Marsden celebrates after scoring for Armagh Diarmaid Marsden celebrates after scoring for Armagh

Sigerson Cup: Queen’s 3-8 Trinity College Dublin 1-6

QUEEN’S, seeking to improve on a poor Sigerson Cup record in recent times, got this year’s challenge off to a good start.

A workmanlike, if not totally convincing, performance ensured victory over Trinity College Dublin at Dundalk yesterday.

Winners of this most prestigious of all college football competitions in 1993, Queen’s haven’t had much luck since then, failing to clear the first hurdle in the last three years.

The Belfast side always looked like winners in this keenly contested tie, holding a 2-2 to 0-3 lead at the interval and finishing with an eight-point advantage.

However, it wasn’t until substitute Barry O’Hagan rifled the ball to the net five minutes from time that a brave Trinity challenge was finally killed off.

Collie Holmes and Anthony McGrath were good defenders in the Queen’s defence, and there was a good showing up front from Aidan O’Rourke, who failed to make it onto the scoresheet but had a hand in several of them.

Diarmaid Marsden scored 1-3 while Trinity had two dashing half-backs in John Heeney and David Fagan, and the best fielder on view in Andy Walsh.

Queen’s: C Rafferty, P Campbell, C McGleenan, A Molloy, E McNulty, C Holmes, A McGrath (0-2), J McNulty, Con Coleman, Conor Coleman (0-1), C McAnallen (1-2), J Considine, A O’Rourke, B Ward, D Marsden (1-3)

Subs: P Campbell for Con Coleman, B O’Hagan (1-0) for Conor Coleman, M Rodgers for Considine.

Trinity: S Barry, A Maguire, C Collins, P Whitty, D Fagan, D Madden, J Heeney, D Hughes, A Walsh, G Shields (0-1), I Fitzgerald (0-2), D McConville, R O’Reilly (0-2), D Berry (1-1), P Kierans.

Subs: C Duignan for McConville.

Ref: J Harlin (Meath)

ST LOUISE'S, Belfast found victory over St Patrick’s, Maghera beyond them in the Ulster Senior Colleges semi-final as the experienced south Derry team powered through to the final with an emphatic 2-13 to 0-1 scoreline.

Maghera were in control in most positions on the field and Paula McKenna again and again frustrated St Louise’s best player, Jane Adams with her tigerish tackling and close marking.

St Patrick’s: B Mellon, B McGuckin, F Hasson, B O’Laughlin, C Bradley, C McNicholl, (0-3), P McKenna, L McCloskey, S McCloskey (2-0), S McGuigan (0-3), P McAtamney (0-3), E McPeake (0-4).

Subs: T McErlean for McGuigan, C McCullough for McNicholl.

St Louise’s: A McShane, D McKenna, S Brunty, E Wilson, M Hamill, S Deekin, J Adams (0-1), N McAreavey, C Doherty, O Crummy, R Gamble, A Jackson.

Sub: S Grego for Wilson.

ST MARY’S, Magherafelt scored a surprisingly easy 3-9 to 1-1 victory over local rivals and champions St Patrick’s, Maghera in the Ulster Junior Schools camogie semi-final at Bellaghy.

Maghera were blitzed early in the first half with goals from Patricia Bateson and captain Lorna Mulholland and St Mary’s led 2-4 to 0-0 at the break.

The holders staged a mini revival at the start of the second half but Marie Therese McCann pointed her side into the final.

St Mary’s scorers: Lorna Mulholland (1- 2), Patricia Bateson & Noelle McMahon (1-0 each), Marie Therese McCann (0-7). St Pat’s scorers: Paula McCloy (1-0), Jane Kelly (0-1).

ALL-IRELAND U21 champions Derry have trimmed their squad to 28 in preparation for next month’s opening defence of the Ulster Championship title against Monaghan on March 14.

A challenge game against Sligo is being sought after recent work-outs against Mayo, Derry and Ulster club champions Dungiven.

Derry U21s: Benny Murray (Ballinascreen), Michael Conlon, Enda Muldoon, Paul Wilson, Steven McGeehan (Ballinderry), Ryan Lynch (Banagher), Paul Diamond, Joe Cassidy, Kieran McNally, Gavin Diamond, Francis Glackin (Bellaghy), Fergal Crossan, Gavin Cornwell (Craigbane), Adrian Heaney (Castledawson), Eamon McGinley (Derry Colmcille), Michael Coll (Drumsurn), Neil Farren (Drum), Shane O’Kane (Glenullin), John McBride, Paul McFlynn, Fintan Devlin, Gary Colman (Loup), David Hopkins, Damien McErlain (Magherafelt), Brendan Kearney (Slaughtneil), Gary Doyle, Gary Cushnan (Lavey), Seamus Kearney (Swatragh).