St Pius X and St Patrick’s Maghera look forward to All-Ireland series

St. Patrick's, Maghera 2-5

St. Killian's 2-4

WITH just 60 seconds left in the FMC Appliances Ulster Schools’ Camogie Sevens Cup final on Monday in Portglenone, St Patrick’s Maghera’s three-in-a-row hopes hung by a thread. They trailed St Killian’s Garron Tower by 2-4 to 1-4. But they conjured up a goal and a point to make the cut once more.

Emma Quinn opted to go for goal from a 35m free and somehow the ground shot made it into the net off a defender. The Maghera defence returned the poc out and Quinn grabbed glory by flashing an angled shot between the posts.

The score-taking of Quinn as well as Eva McNeill for St Killian’s was outstanding. McNeill scored 2-3 while Quinn’s late salvo brought her final tally to 2-4. They were well supported by Laoise McCollam, Emer Ward, Tamara Black and Cliodhna Thompson for the Tower and Grace McCartney, Eimear Conway and Róisín McAtamney for the winners.

St Mary’s Magherafelt, St Louis Ballymena and Cross & Passion Ballycastle also competed for the Cup and all gave a good account of themselves, CPC unlucky not to reach the decider after a 4-3 to 1-3 win over St Killian’s in a group game. However they were beaten by St Louis Ballymena in the next game and missed out on reaching the final.

Panels and scorers in the final :

St Patrick’s: A McWilliams, E Quinn(2-4), R McAtamney, E Conway capt., G McCartney (0-1), B Donaghy, GM Bradley, G Diamond, E Diamond, O McKenna, I Martin, R McNally

St Killian’s: L McNaughton, L McCollam, E Ward, E McNaughton, E McNeill (2-3), T Black, S Carey, M McKeegan, K McLaughlin, N McCollam, A Campbell, C Thompson (0-1)

Went the distance

The FMC Appliances Shield competition ran at the same time on the other pitch in Portglenone and participating were St Conor’s Clady, Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock, St Patrick’s Keady, St Pius X Magherafelt and Assumption Ballynahinch.

After the very competitive group stages both St Pius X and Knock were unbeaten, their head-to-head ending in a draw.

As with the Cup final the Shield decider went the distance with a very late goal from Áine Young snatching victory (3-5 to 4-1) for St Pius X.

Although Ríonach Conlon ran from deep to open St Pius X’s account with a superb goal, it was Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock who made most of the running with Emer Kelly putting the Magherafelt girls on the back foot with her driving runs from midfield.

Kelly goaled twice and Caoimhe Dorrian added a goal and a point as Knock led 3-1 to 2-3 at the break. A special mention for Grace Darragh who pulled off a number of excellent stops in the St Pius X nets.

Although Conlan and Hannah Downey tagged on points, a fourth Knock goal – from Dorrian – looked to have sealed the deal until Áine Young forced home the winner at the end.

Knock: Hollie Sands, ⁠Caitlin Faye, Eabha Marie Watson, Molly Lennon, Caoimhe Dorrian (2-1), Emer Kelly (2-0), ⁠Sarah Monan, ⁠Bella Arthurs, Caoimhe Caughey, Abigail Hanvey, Aislinn Coulter, Adele Taggart

Both St Pius X and St Patrick’s Maghera will now go forward to take part in the All-Ireland series in the Meath Centre of Excellence in Dunganny on Wednesday 16^th October.