Hurling & Camogie

Casement Cup semi-final evenly balanced but St Mary’s, Magherafelt may edge it

Danske Bank Casement Cup semi-final: Monday Nov 12: 3pm in Allen Park, Antrim

St Mary’s, Magherafelt v Rathmore Grammar

LAST November St Mary’s Magherafelt really pushed St Patrick’s, Keady close in the Danske Bank Casement Cup final and they look intent on reaching a second final when they take on Rathmore Grammar in this afternoon’s semi-final in Allen Park, Antrim.

Team captain Ciaran O’Neill, goalkeeper Jake Donnelly, Morgan Nelson, Emmett Donnelly and Ronan Kalla are the survivors from last season’s team and Creggan clubman Nelson has been their go-to player for scores.

They had group wins over Pobalscoil na Rosann and St Patrick’s, Armagh, but lost by a point to the Tyrone schools’ combination team.

That paired them with St Patrick’s, Downpatrick in a quarter-final and the south Derry school impressed with a 3-22 to 0-10 win.

Rathmore Grammar avoided a quarter-final by topping their group, although they did lose narrowly to Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s, Knock in their final game.

Four players who have worn the Saffron colours in the past season backbone the Rathmore challenge.

Anthony Gallagher and Daragh Stevenson are in central defence and Odhran McIlhatton from St Gall’s and Conal Bohill (St John’s) in attack.

It should be a close enough game; perhaps Magherafelt’s experience of last season’s decider can take them through to a second one.

If so they will meet the winner from Friday’s second semi-final between Knock and the Tyrone schools.