GAA: Novel pairing in MacRory Cup Final

St Mary's Magherafelt go in search of a second successive MacRory Cup title on Monday (Athletic Grounds 1.15).

They face St Ronan's Lurgan, who are playing in their first ever decider.

St Ronan's are managed by former Tyrone minor and current Derry U20 manager Mickey Donnelly.

Kevin Brady leads the St Mary's management team has a winners medal from 1996 in the colours if St Patrick's Maghera.

Full eight page preview in this week's County Derry Post

Paths to the final...

ST MARY’S MAGHERAFELT

McCORMICK CUP

Round 1 - St Mary’s 4-10 Patrician Carrickmacross 1-13 Round 2 - St Mary’s 2-13 St Mary’s Belfast 0-9 Round 3 - St Mary’s 2-17 St Macartan’s Monaghan 0-4 Semi-Final - St Mary’s 1-5 St Patrick’s Maghera 3-12

MacRORY CUP

Quarter-Final St Mary’s Magherafelt 4-9 Omagh CBS 1-3 This was an easy passage to the semi-final for the holders who led 1-4 to 0-0 after nine minutes. Magherafelt got off to a dream start, with early points from defender Simon McErlain, Tiarnan McAteer and Jamie McCann. With just five minutes gone, the holders received another boost when full back Giuseppe Lupari found the net. It took Omagh until the 28th minute to register a score when James Garrity lobbed over. Cormac Murphy ensured Magherafelt ended the half on a high however, with a goal after a brilliant move to open a nine point lead. Omagh CBS hit back with a Rory Kennedy goal five minutes into the second half but Conall Devlin’s second point of the game set Kevin Brady’s side back on the march and Liam Quinn bundled home a third goal as St Mary’s took complete control of the game. St Mary’s: O Lynch, C Doyle, G Lupari (1-0), L McElhone, J Crawford, S McErlain (0-1), J McCann (0-2 frees), R Keenan, T Donaghy, A Connolly, T McAteer (0-1), C Devlin (0-2), L Quinn (1-1, 0-1 free), C Murphy (1-0), D McAteer. Subs: C O’Neill (0-2), E McBride (1-0).

Semi-Final St Mary’s 6-7 St Patrick’s Maghera 1-13 The crowd of over 3,700 souls who flocked to Bellaghy for the clash of these South Derry rivals spoke volumes for this rollercoaster. Daniel Bradley hammered home a goal in the opening seconds, from the penalty spot.  It set down a marker for what was to follow. St Mary’s employed an incessant running game and Maghera simply had no answer.  Goals were coming from everywhere.  Simon McErlain got forward to finish to the net and Tiarnach Donaghy got himself on the end of two moves. Maghera went into the game as red hot favourites and even a late penalty from Alex Doherty couldn’t peg them back as ‘The Convent’ advanced to another decider.

St Mary’s: O Lynch, C Doyle, G Lupari, L McElhone, J Crawford, S McErlain (1-0), J McCann, R Keenan, T Donaghy (2-0), D Bradley (1-3, 1-0 pen, 3f), T McAteer (0-2, 1f), C Devlin, L Quinn (1-1), C Murphy (1-0), J McErlain. Subs: D McAteer for D Bradley (46), A McCluskey for R Keenan (53), C O’Neill (0-1) for L Quinn

TOP SCORERS (6 games)

Daniel Bradley                     3-27        0-14f, 1-0 pen Adam Connolly                    4-4          0-1f Tiarnan McAteer                 0-9          0-1f Liam Quinn                          2-2          0-1f Cormac Murphy                  2-1

ST RONAN’S LURGAN

Round 1 - St Ronan’s 3-10 St Patrick’s Armagh 3-7 Round 2 - St Ronan’s 2-9 Omagh CBS 0-7 Round 3 - St Ronan’s 1-9 St Malachy’s Castlewellan 1-7 Semi-Final - St Ronan’s 3-10 St Paul’s Bessbrook 1-8 Final - St Ronan’s 3-11 St Patrick’s Maghera 1-7

Quarter-Final St Ronan’s 0-14 Patrician Carrickmacross 1-10 This quarter-final in Castleblayney went right to the wire with St Ronan’s Lurgan breathing a sigh of relief when Sean Burns’ last kick of the match was pulled slightly wide of the posts. St Ronan’s made an impressive start to the game going into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead with some top class points - Jack Lenehan, Oisin Smyth and Eoin McConville hitting the target with ease. But Patrician came back and with minutes gone in the second-half, the sides were level. McConvilles and Oisin Smyth put 0-13 to 0-7 by the 42nd minute. A Sean Burns goal set the game was set up for a tense finish but Lurgan held on. St Ronan’s: L Mulholland, E McCluskey, A Mulholland, J Haddock, A McCreanor, J Lamont, J Haughey, J Lenehan (0-1), T Kelly (0-1f), O Smyth (0-2), E McConville (0-7, 5f), R Meehan (0-2), R McConville (0-1), L Monteiro, J Megoran. Subs: A Loughran for J Megoran (41), M McAfee for L Monteiro (57), C Magee for R McConville (63).

Semi-Final St Ronan’s Lurgan 2-11 St Patrick’s Armagh 1-13 Like their quarter-final, this game was decided by the last kick with Eoin McConville the hero with the winning goal three minutes into injury time. Michael Conroy finished to the St Ronan’s net in the 4th minute. St Ronan’s though responded in style and after McConville had knocked over two frees impressive midfielder Tiernan Kelly burst through to tie the game. St Ronan’s grabbed a goal Leo Monteiro flicking a high ball to the net, putting St Ronan’s a point ahead by half-time. Armagh refused to throw in the towel and with seven minutes to go they had their noses in front. As the contest slipped into injury time a high ball in from Lenehan saw Kelly and keeper Gibney go for it and it fell into the path of McConville who couldn’t miss an empty net. St Ronan’s: L Mulholland, E McCluskey, A Mulholland, J Haddock, A McCreanor, J Lamont, J Haughey (0-1), J Lenehan (0-1), T Kelly (0-2), O Smyth, A Loughran, R Meehan, R McConville, L Monteiro (1-0), E McConville (1-7, 6f). Subs: C Magee for McCreanor, J Megoran for Monteiro, M McAfee for R McConville, R Shine for Smyth

TOP SCORERS (7 games)

Tiarnan Kelly                       4-11        1-0 pen, 0-4f Eoin McConville                 1-17        0-12f Leo Monteiro                       3-2 Oisin Smyth                         0-10        1f Ruairi McConville               1-6