Danske Bank Mageean Cup semi-final Cross & Passion, Ballycastle 2-20 St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast 1-5
C
ROSS & Passion booked their spot in the Mageean Cup decider on December 8 with a win that was almost a carbon-copy of the first semi-final 24 hours earlier.
Just as St Killian’s had done against Maghera, CPC scored the first seven points in the opening quarter, beginning with a sideline from Paudie Martin and including two quick-fire points from Oisin McCallin, who was always lively in the corner of the attack.
Enda McGurk and Fionn Jemfrey responded with points from St Mary’s and for a 10-minute spell it looked as if the Belfast side would make a game of it.
However, in the 26th minute Conor Donnelly was body-checked on the way to goal and Roan McGarry fired the penalty low to the net.
Within 60 seconds, Liam Glackin finished a flowing Ballycastle move that involved Ronan Fitzgerlad and McCallin with a second goal and CPC held a commanding 2-9 to 0-4 interval lead.
Jemfrey (two) and James Wilson registered three of the first four points of the second half for St Mary’s, but Cross and Passion responded with the next five, Conor Donnelly coming further outfield to turn and take some fine scores.
St Mary’s sub Ruairí McGreevy forced a goal in the 49th minute, but CPC again responded with the last six points of the game to set up a derby final with last season’s beaten finalists St Killian’s, Garron Tower.
CPC R McGarry 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f); Conor Donnelly 0-5; L Glackin 1-0; P Martin 0-3 (0-1 sideline); O McCallin & B McGarry (2f) 0-2 each; R Fitzgerald,
T McGarry, C Cane & C Crawford 0-1 each
St Mary’s R McGreevy 1-0;
F Jemfrey 0-3 (0-1f); E McGurk
& J Wilson 0-1
