St Patrick’s Maghera fall short against Ballycastle in Leonard Cup semi-final
Late Maghera rally not enough to stop Cross & Passion
Cross & Passion Ballycastle 1-16 ... St Patrick’s Maghera 1-12
The foundations for this Danske Bank Leonard Cup semi-final win for Cross & Passion Ballycastle in Ahoghill were laid in the opening half when they played into the wind, yet led St Patrick’s Maghera by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break
Maghera should have had a better return from the opening half, but their scoring radar was off and late points from CPC’s main scorers John óg Darragh and Tom Richmond gave their team the edge.
Harry McCloskey opened the scoring for Maghera and Richmond levelled from a free and that was the pattern of the opening half with Patrick O’Loughlin from play and frees responding to Iarla Gillan, John óg Darragh and Tom Richmond while Toirdhealbach Mac Giolla Dhúin and Killian Cassidy got through a lot of work for CPC in the middle third.
Darragh pointed on the re-start and McCloskey and defender Ryan Murray closed the gap to the minimum after 34 minutes. It looked to be a copy of the first half template when two points followed for Darragh and O’Loughlin and Daithí McGarrity responded for Maghera. But then CPC opened a small gap between the teams with two points each from Killian Cassidy and Darragh.
Patrick O’Loughlin then goaled for Maghera in the 47th minute after a mistake from the Ballycastle goalie gave him the opportunity.
But three minutes later CPC went 1-15 to 1-9 ahead with a goal from Darragh after a turnover in midfield by Toirdhealbach Mac Giolla Dhúin.
Maghera put on a lot of pressure over the last ten minutes but Ballycastle’s defence held them to points each from McCloskey, O’Loughlin and McGarrity while a late free from Tom Richmond made the game safe for Ballycastle.
The second semi-final takes place on Monday at Mallusk between St Killian’s Garron Tower and surprise qualifiers the Newry Area Team.
CPC: Liam McClelland, Cillian Bellew, Ben Linton, Gerard Gillan, Caleb McCaughan, Pearse McMullan, Malachy McSparran, Killian Cassidy 0-2, Rory McCloskey, Iarfhlaith O’Kane, John óg Darragh 1-6, Toirdhealbhach Mac Giolla Dhúin, Iarla Gillan 0-1, Tom Richmond 0-6, Daire Kearney 0-1
St Patrick’s College: Davin Gallagher, Feargal Convery, Oscar O’Kane, Daniel Boyle, Ryan Murray 0-1, Aodhán Kerr, Quentin Farren, Mark óg McGrath, Michael Duffin, Daniel McKaigue, Patrick O’Loughlin 1-6, 0-2fs, Harry McCloskey 0-3, 2fs, Dillon McErlean, Daithí McGarrity 0-2, Daithí Kearney.