Danske Bank Mageean Cup Group B, round one
Cross & Passion, Ballycastle 4-27 St Patrick’s, Maghera 0-15
CROSS and Passion, Ballycastle set down an early marker for this season’s Bank Mageean Cup with a very impressive showing against St Patrick’s, Maghera in Loughgiel yesterday.
They opened with a seventh-minute goal from Conor Donnelly, to which Maghera hit back with five unanswered points to lead by 0-6 to 1-2.
However, that was as good as it got for the Derry side. Donnelly got his team level in the 14th minute and from then on they opened Maghera’s defence at will.
Caedan Crawford bundled in their second goal after Dara Hasson had brilliantly saved his first effort a few minutes before half-time and CPC led by 2-13 to 0-8 at the turnover.
Although Odhrán Doherty fired over a Maghera point on the re-start each of the full-forward line responded with points as Ballycastle continued at the pace they set before the break.
Maghera’s only response came from Rian Collins frees while Conor Donnelly completed his hat-trick with goals in the 45th and 57th minutes.
The next game in the competition is this afternoon (1.30pm) in Ballymena, with St Louis taking on Our Lady & St Patrick’s, Knock in a Group A fixture.
CPC’s next outing is on Tuesday against the holders St Killian’s, Garron Tower in Cushendun (2.30pm).
Scorers
CPC C Donnelly 3-3; C Crawford 1-4; O McCallin (2f) & P Martin (5f) 0-7 each; R Fitzgerald 0-3 (0-1f); L Glackin 0-2 (0-1); O Conway 0-1
St Patrick’s R Collins 0-5f; C Óg McCloskey 0-3 (0-2f); O Doherty & G McIvor 0-2 each; D O’Neill, J McCloy & A McGill 0-1 each
