Danske Bank Markey Cup final
St Columb’s, Derry 1-10 St Patrick’s, Keady 2-8 (after extra-time)
A goal in the last minute of extra-time from Jack Loughran brought a dramatic end to this Danske Bank Markey Cup final in Greencastle on Friday evening.
The cup seemed to be slipping from their grip moments before half-time in extra-time after Tiarnan McFeely had fired to the net soccer-style to give St Columb’s a 1-9 to 1-5 lead in a low-scoring game. It looked to be enough to see St Columb’s to their first title since 2019.
However, just as the south Armagh school had staged a late comeback to take the Casement Cup hurling title before Christmas, their footballers rose from the floor with three unanswered points to leave the minimum between the teams. Then, hurling captain Loughran drove to the net when a high ball in came off a defender.
The game had gone to extra-time in dramatic fashion as well with a point from McFeely in the fourth minute of added time. St Columb’s hadn’t been ahead in ordinary time.
The first score of the game was a rather fortunate goal, Sean óg McNaughton’s sideline going all the way to the Derry net. Sean Woods tagged on a point before captain Jude Bryson opened the St Columb’s account with a point after 16 minutes.
The teams tradeed points before the break to leave it 1-2 to 0-2 at the change of ends.
Bryson and Somhairle McFadden made it a one-point game on the restart. Although Darragh Geraghty responded with a point, scores from Tiarnan McFeely and Bryson levelled the tie with 10 minutes to go.
Keady looked as if they were in the driving seat with points over the next five minutes from Woods and Jack Loughran, but Liam Meenan and McFeely put a hold on celebrations.
Bryson’s point and the McFeely goal then gave the city boys control, but McNaughton from play and Woods and Rafferty from frees set up that late late smash-and-grab.
St Patrick’s S óg McNaughton and J Loughran 1-1 each, S Woods 0-3, L Rafferty 0-2, D Geraghty 0-1.
St Columb’s T McFeely 1-2, J Bryson 0-4, S McFadden 0-2, L Meenan 0-1
Danske Bank Faul Cup semi final
Largy College, Clones 3-10 Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 0-11
THE introduction of second-half substitutes Odhrán Carolan and Darragh McElvaney turned this game on its head and sent Largy College into a final pairing with St Aidan’s, Cootehill next week.
Gaelcholáiste free-taker Ger Ó Diolúin dominated the first-half scoring in Omagh and the Derry side led by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.
Largy were lethargic in general play and really needed something to change. Carolan and McElvaney provided it. The former scored two goals and a point, while McElvaney, despite lacking match sharpness on his return from injury, added much needed bite to the Monaghan side’s attacking moves and he tagged on a couple of points.
Gaelcholáiste deserved their half-time lead, with Emmett óg Mac Íomhair and Aaron Mag Uiginn good support for Ó Diolúin, who finished the half with six scores to his name.
The second half was a different story, however, with Largy pushing up on the opposition kick-out and points from Oisin Lynch and Dane McAvinney narrowed the gap.
Carolan then scored the first of his two goals to edge them ahead. Although Fionnbar Ó Muirí hit back with a point for Gaelcholáiste, Largy were now in the ascendancy and that was reflected on the scoreboard when Oisín Lynch fired in their second goal and Darragh McElvaney added a point.
Ó Diolúin pointed in response but Carolan wrapped up the result with his second goal.
Largy O Carolan 2-1, O Lynch 1-4, D McElvaney 0-2, D McAvinney, E Humphries, N McGinnity and S Carolan 0-1 each
Gaelcholáiste G Ó Diolún 0-8, C Tiarnaigh, F Ó Muirí agus D Ó Lochlainn 0-1 each
