Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup semi-finals
St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley 0-17 St Louis, Ballymena 2-8
St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley are through to their first ever Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup final after winning a competitive encounter with St Louis’ Ballymena at Ballinderry on Saturday afternoon.
The Tyrone lads were the better side early on but a punched goal from impressive midfielder Ronan Kelly enabled Ballymena to turn around with their noses in front, 1-4 to 0-6.
St Ciaran’s levelled matters on the restart before they had a great chance to open up a gap when they were awarded a penalty but Caoimhin O’Donnell sent the spot kick wide. It didn’t knock his confidence though as he landed a few points on his way to a personal haul of 0-6 as St Ciaran’s set up a St Patrick's Day showdown with Our Lady’s, Castleblayney.
O’Donnell, Pascal Donaghy and Tomas Hoy put St Ciaran’s into an early three-point lead before Kelly opened St Louis’ account.
Hoy and a brilliant effort from Darragh Canavan stretched the winners’ advantage but then St Louis hit back.
Kelly pointed before the same player got on the end of a Conor McAuley delivery to punch the ball to the net to level matters.
O’Donnell edged St Ciaran’s back in front but efforts from Aaron McNeilly and Kelly saw the lead change hands before the interval.
A Kelly free opened the second half scoring but a superb brace from midfielder Daniel Millar had the sides level before O’Donnell scuffed his 35th minute penalty after Hoy had been fouled.
Kelly and Donaghy traded points before O’Donnell gave his side a lead that they were never to lose with 20 minutes left to play.
O’Donnell then converted two frees as well as adding one from play but St Louis got back into the game three minutes from time with a goal from substitute Darragh Fegan.
Only the minimum separated the two sides at that stage but St.Ciaran’s weren’t to be denied with Donaghy, Cormac Donnelly and substitute Pauraic McNelis all on target on a day when all but two of their points came from play.
St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley: P Traynor, M Lennon, Conor Quinn, D McCrudden, Callum Corrigan, Cathair Quinn, Cathal Corrigan, J Oguz, D Millar (0-2), P Donaghy (0-3), C Donnelly (0-2), C Traynor, T Hoy (0-2), C O’Donnell (0-6, 2f), D Canavan (0-1). Subs: J Murray for McCrudden, P McNelis (0-1) for Canavan, J Doyle for Hoy
St Louis, Ballymena: E Elliot, S Madden, M Carberry, C Kinsella, O Campbell, T Quigg, S Convery, R McGarry, R Kelly (1-5, 3f), L McCann, C McAuley, L McKernan, A McNeilly (0-2), C Doherty (0-1, 1f), S Elliot. Subs: R Griffin for Carberry, D Fegan (1-0) for Convery, R McLarnon for McAuley
Referee: K Faloon, Armagh
Our Lady’s, Castleblayney 2-9 St Pius X, Magherafelt 1-10
A sluggish opening half from St Pius X, Magherafelt ultimately cost them this Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup semi-final in Derrymacash as 2015 winners Our Lady’s Castleblayney secured their ticket back to the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on St Patrick’s Day.
James Wilson was the key man for Our Lady’s with a 2-5 haul, but there were other impressive performances – from Franck Connolly at the heart of the defence and Aaron Courtney who opened the scoring in the first minute.
St Pius X never really got to grips with the game during the opening half and trailed by 1-6 to 0-1 at the break, but there was an amazing turnaround during the third quarter, Conor Quinn’s 38th minute goal sparking a revival that had them within a point of Our Lady’s entering the last ten minutes.
However Wilson just needed one more chance and the Toome attacker got it in the 51st minute, turning his marker and slotting home his second goal. Although St Pius X rallied with three late scores from Caolan Devlin, Castleblayney had done enough to win their second knock-out match by the minimum margin.
The first half was a succession of scores for Our Lady’s after Courtney’s quick opening point. They were four up, two from Wilson, by the ninth minute when Mark McGrogan finally got Magherafelt off the mark with a free.
Two minutes later however a high ball towards towering full-forward Kieran Duffy wasn’t properly dealt with and Wilson pounced on the rebound.
A slow second quarter followed but Blayney were in control and on the re-start, points from Courtney and Wilson stretched Our Lady’s lead to 1-8 to 0-2.
What followed was a remarkable comeback from St Pius X, a 1-4 haul without reply that left them with momentum and within a point. But Wilson broke that momentum to send his team through to a meeting with St Ciaran’s Ballygawley.
Our Lady’s: K O’Connor, T Grehan, C Blanche, S Markey, C Callan, F Connolly 0-1f, J Gorman, T Duffy, H McGinn, G Kelly, D Hanley, D Drury, J Wilson 2-5, 3f, K Duffy, A Courtney 0-3.?Subs: D Caraher for K Duffy (36), M Mooney for S Markey (50), S Markey for F Connolly (BC 54), C McKenna for A Courtney (58).
St Pius X: R Cassidy, P McCrystal, A Conway, J Gribben, I Donaghy, A Rocks, S Monaghan, J Maybin, P McGrogan 0-1, A McGlone 0-1, C Devlin 0-7, 4f, 1 sideline, O Kerr, N Scullion, C Quinn 1-0, Mark McGrogan 0-1f.?Subs: C McKeever for O Kerr (28), E Lynn for C McKeever (46), O Kerr for I Donaghy (59).
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
