St Patrick's Maghera crowned All-Ireland Hurling champions

Some teams are just made for finals. St Patrick’s Maghera fit that bill – and the bigger the occasion, the better they play.

On Saturday in Coralstown Kinnegad they gave their large band of supporters an early scare and didn’t really look comfortable in the game until the last quarter. But an unanswered 1-6 that included a late penalty strike from captain Rian Collins saw them over the line for a slightly flattering eight points’ victory that left Tralee CBS deflated for the second time in four days.

The Munster champions had lost the Hogan Cup final in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day to Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar, victory secured by a point in added time. Four dual players, the Hurley twins, Ryan and Cillian, Mikey Corridan and Eoin O’Flatherty, seemed to have bounced back from that defeat as they pushed Tralee into a six points’ lead midway into the first half.

Maghera started well with Odhrán Doherty and Peadar Pio Peoples prominent at half-back. But their wayward shooting from the semi-final still seemed to be a problem – four in ten minutes – and Tralee stayed in touch. Then suddenly the Kerry boys struck.

Brandon Leen’s clearance was brilliantly fielded by Oisín Heaton to set up Rory O’Halloran for a goal that put them ahead for the first time. Minutes later Heaton rose to flick a high ball from Eoin O’Flaherty past Donncha Collins.

Significantly St Patrick’s were quick to respond, scoring the next four points, three of them from Rian Collins. But Tralee responded with a couple of scores from Costello before Pádraig O’Kane fired a low shot to their net.

Briefly the gap had been reduced to a single point, but Tralee finished the half strongly with three unanswered points, including a fine score from Heaton away out on the wing.

Tralee ahead by 2-9 to 1-8 at the break, with the breeze on their backs for the second half. It was looking good for the Kerry team. 

But scoring (for both sides) began to slow up a little in the third quarter and a goal from Finn Cartin, teed up by his captain Rian Collins, saw Maghera on equal terms by the 41^st minute.

Tralee responded with a point from sub Jason Gaynor and the teams swopped scores over the next five minutes. The Munster champions still held a 2-14 to 1-13 lead going into the final quarter.

But Maghera rose to the occasion. PJ Glover dropped back into a more defensive role and that shut the flow of ball into the Tralee forwards. It also allowed Odhrán Doherty to spread his wings.

The Portglenone footballer, who hurls with his mother’s native Sleacht Néill, fired over several frees from outside the 65 to edge Maghera ahead and Rian Collins’ secured Maghera’s third national hurling title with a penalty goal in stoppage time.

Plenty of these Maghera players had pocketed MacRory and Hogan medals last year and have now added Mageean and Buggy hurling souvenirs. Among them are the O’Kane brothers, Pádraig and Seán, both among the scorers on Saturday.

Their father James had guided Maghera to the top of the schools’ hurling tree in 2006. It was the first time an Ulster side had been there in 32 years. That opened the door for more Ulster success.

Now, after St Killian’s in 2024 and Cross & Passion last year, Ulster has lifted the Paddy Buggy Cup three years in succession and Maghera, after national success in football and camogie last year, have lifted a third All-Ireland title in another code

St Patrick’s: D Collins; O Burke, C Gallagher, D McEldowney; D O’Neill, O Doherty 0-6f, PP Peoples; D McCloskey, N McNicholl 0-1; C McCloskey 0-1, R Collins 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), PJ Glover 0-1; P O’Kane 1-3, S O’Kane 0-2, F Cartin 1-1. Sub: R O’Loughlin for C McCloskey (47).

Tralee CBS: C Harris; Brandon Leen, J O’Donovan, R Hurley; M O’Sullivan 0-2f, M Corridon, L Hanafin; Brody Leen, C Hurley; E Costello 0-7 (0-6f), R O’Halloran 1-0, E O’Flaherty 0-1; S Shanahan 0-2, J Rochford 0-1, O Heaton 1-1. Subs: J Gaynor for Rochford (37), A Relihan for O’Halloran (50), D O’Flaherty for Hanafin (52), Rochford for Hurley (54), L Fitzmaurice for Brody Leen (57)

Referee: C Ryan (Tipperary)