Danske Bank Mageean Cup semi-finals
St Killian’s, Garron Tower 6-22 St Patrick’s, Maghera 1-7
BY the end of the opening quarter of this game in Ballymena it was obvious that St Patrick’s, Maghera were struggling to contain a rampant Garron Tower forward line.
St Killian’s had registered seven points in a row, three from Orrin O’Connor, and Joseph McLaughlin also rattled a shot off the bottom of the left goalpost with Danny Gallagher well beaten.
Ruairí Biggs opened Maghera’s account in the 16th minute from a free and Jack McCloy then sent a 65 straight to the Garron Tower net three minutes later.
However, within 60 seconds McLaughlin had brought a save from Gallagher with Oran McCambridge slotting home the rebound and O’Connor pointed from the poc-out.
Maghera didn’t get a chance to build momentum and by half time the St Killian’s lead had stretched to 1-13 to 1-3. Less than a minute into the new half, McCambridge had his second goal.
The Tower pushed on to 2-18 before Ruairí Biggs pointed two frees for Maghera. However, on came sub Niall Hynds to record his side’s third goal in the 44th minute.
McLaughlin then scored a very tasty point before McCambridge completed his hat-trick following a long ball from the impressive Callagh Mooney.
McLaughlin came off at that stage to be replaced by Michael Furey, who forced home the last two goals to put St Killian’s back into the December 8 final at the Dub.
That takes place five days after Joseph McLaughlin is expected to feature for Cushendall in the Ulster Club final against Slaughtneil.
St Killian’s O McCambridge 3-1; O O’Connor 0-9 (0-3f); M Furey 2-0; N Hynds 1-0; J McLaughlin 0-4; C McKeown, P McDonnell & C Mooney 0-2 each; C McAuley & E Ward 0-1 each
St Patrick’s J McCloy 1-1 (1-0f); R Biggs 0-4f; F Turner & C Gaile 0-1 each
Cross & Passion, Ballycastle v St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast (Wednesday, Dunsilly, 4pm)
CROSS and Passion have not been challenged yet in this season’s Danske Bank Mageean Cup.
They looked very comfortable in the wins over Knock and St Louis, Ballymena, but that is perhaps put into context by the fact that both their group opponents exited the competition at the quarter-final stage.
CPC are a young side, built round the team that ran away with the Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup earlier this year. They also ran last season’s Foresters’ Cup close, beaten in the final by St Killian’s.
There was a lot of talent in the Ballycastle ranks already with Cahir and Connor Donnelly, the McGarrys and Daragh Kelly but the addition of two county minors has further strengthened Joe Cassidy’s hand.
Dunloy team-mates Paudie Martin, a Mageean Cup winner with St Louis, Ballymena last year, and Reece Cunning have transferred in September to CPC for sixth-form.
St Mary’s convincingly beat St Louis in the quarter-final a fortnight ago. Fionn Jemfrey, with 1-9 out of 2-15, obviously caught the eye, but the win stemmed more from getting the match-ups correct, particularly Michael Marlow neutralising the threat of Jack McCloskey.
Overall it was a solid enough team performance and much improved on their group outings. St Killian’s had taken them apart to the tune of 6-16 to 0-8, but they were much better when edging home against Maghera 1-16 to 2-11.
They will still enter this game as outsiders, simply because Cross and Passion look so comfortable on the ball and in hunting it down.
If St Mary’s stick with Ballycastle for most of the game, they should be pleased enough with their performance.
