Football

MacRory Cup play-offs: Cookstown and Carrickmacross advance

Ruairi McHugh (left) was on the scoresheet as Holy Trinity defeated St Pat's Cavan to set up a MacRory Cup quarter-final against St Pat's, Maghera
Ruairi McHugh (left) was on the scoresheet as Holy Trinity defeated St Pat's Cavan to set up a MacRory Cup quarter-final against St Pat's, Maghera Ruairi McHugh (left) was on the scoresheet as Holy Trinity defeated St Pat's Cavan to set up a MacRory Cup quarter-final against St Pat's, Maghera

Danske Bank MacRory Cup play-offs: Holy Trinity Cookstown 2-8 St Pat's Cavan 1-7; Patrician High School, Carrickmacross 2-10 Our Lady's, Castleblayney 0-9

Holy Trinity, Cookstown made it through to the Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-finals when they had four points to spare over St Pats Cavan at Paddy Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon.

Second half goals from Brian Hampsey and Michael McElhatton proved crucial as they set up a last eight meeting with St Pat's, Maghera in what is a repeat of last season’s semi-final.

Ruairi McHugh and Conan Devlin gave the winners an early two-point advantage before Cormac Gavigan and Cian Keaney levelled matters with frees apiece. Oliver McCrystal and Devlin exchanged points before McElhatton and Hugh J Cunningham put Holy Trinity two in front. Niall Crowe responded for Cavan but Holy Trinity had the final say of the half through Cormac Devlin to lead 0-6 to 0-4.

Keaney and Cunningham traded points on the resumption before the opening goal of the contest arrived in the 42nd minute. Ardboe team-mates Conor and Cormac Devlin combined for the latter to find Hampsey and the centre half back finished with aplomb to the net.

Cookstown were well on top at this stage and when Jack Martin pushed their lead out to six points they looked well on their way to victory. Keaney converted a 45 and in the 55th minute it was game on again when the same player raised a green flag to cut the deficit to two.

Cavan now had the momentum in their favour and when Harry Boylan made no mistake from a mark it was all of a sudden a one point game. The next kick out was crucial and it was Cookstown who won it with Conan Devlin racing through and with options on either side of him he offloaded to McElhatton who finished to the net in style to secure victory.

Joining Cookstown in the last eight are Patrician High School, Carrickmacross after they emerged victorious from their play-off derby clash with Our Lady's, Castleblayney.

An early goal put the Carrick boys in control in the opening stages and they were never behind. A second goal from Coan Duffy killed off any hope of a 'Blayney fightback as Patrician went on to seal their quarter-final place a with 2-10 to 0-9 win.

The MacRory Cup play-offs conclude today with St Michael’s, Enniskillen taking on St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon at Derrylin (2pm).