Holders St Patrick's Maghera dethroned in Mageean Cup thriller
A 1-11 haul from PJ Glover isn't enough to save the holders as St Killian’s Garron Tower overturn a half-time deficit
St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-22 . . . St Patrick’s Maghera 2-20
Holders St Patrick’s Maghera fully deserved to lead this Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter-final against St Killian’s Garron Tower by 0-11 to 0-5 after 24 minutes.
They were by definitely the better all round team during that period while PJ Glover and Seran O’Kane, both with winners’ medals from last year, piled on the scores. Glover had nailed five points, including four frees, and O’Kane radar was tuned in with four, including one from beyond midfield. However the pick of their scores was the one from defender Cailean Gallagher who raced up the wing and slotted from 50 metres.
At the other end three of St Killian’s points came from frees, including Ben Duncan’s in the opening seconds.
But the whole momentum seemed to change when Christopher Leech drove through and set Donncha Laverty up for a Tower goal in the 25th minute, seconds after Laverty had flashed over a point. St Killian’s went on to lead into first half injury time with three frees from McNaughton and a super score from defender Rian Laverty.
However Glover point a free that would not have been within his reach had it not been brought forward for dissent. Then a quick Tower poc out was overturned and led to a good save from Charlie McNaughton, but the sliotar fell for Owen O’Neill to drive it home.
There was some debate over the exact score at half-time. Referee Owen Elliott declared it at 1-12 to 1-11 to Maghera. But it was St Killian’s who grabbed the nettle for the second half.
They burst out of the blocks to take the lead with three points inside the first two minutes via Dylan and Connlaoth McNaughton and Kian McGarrel. Although Ronan O’Loughlin and Glover hit back with Maghera points, Laverty’s second goal put his side 2-14 to 1-14 ahead and they powered on from there.
Kian McGarrel and then McNaughton, with two frees, stretched the lead while O’Kane responded with a point for Maghera. Then Cahir McCambridge was taken down for a 43rd minute penalty and McNaughton went straight down the middle for the third Tower goal.
Within 60 seconds however Maghera had a life-line when they too were awarded a penalty with Charlie McNaughton picking up a yellow card. However Glover’s shot went just to the right of the post and St Killian’s quickly tagged on points each from Christopher Leech and McNaughton to lead by 3-19 to 1-15.
Facing an energised Tower defence, little was working for Maghera but they did manage five points over the last ten minutes – three frees from Glover and two points from Finn Cartin. There were a couple of goal chances as well, but the Tower beat them away and remained in control until Glover’s 20m free hit their net in the 4th minute of added time.
St Killian's : Charlie McNaughton, Rian Laverty 0-1, Paddy Morgan, Niall McKeown, Cadhan Grahan, Ben Duncan 0-1f, Ronan Magee, Christopher Leech 0-1, Kian McGarel 0-2, Donnacha Laverty 2-1, Dylan McNaughton 0-2, Ciaran McCann, Cahir McCambridge 0-1, Conlaoth McNaughton 1-12, 1-0 pen, 10fs, Jake Laffin 0-1
Subs: O Mooney for C McCambridge (51), Conor Kerr for C Leech (56), Charlie Black for P Morgan (60), Cormac McMullan for J Laffin (60+2), PJ Kelly for R Magee (60+4)
St Patrick’s Maghera: Fionn Wallace, Peadar Pio Peoples, Dara McKaigue, Declan McEldowney, Cathal McCloskey, Ultan McCloskey, Cailean Gallagher 0-1, Ryan Tohill, Dan McEldowney, Peadar Kelly, PJ Glover 1-11, 0-9fs, Sean O’Kane 0-5, Owen O’Neill 1-1, Fionn Cartin 0-2, Ronan O’Loughlin 0-1
Subs: Oisin Burke for R Tohill (HT), Thomas Leadon for O O’Neill (41), Dara McKenna for Declan McEldowney(43), Cathal Duggan for P Kelly (49)
Referee: Owen Elliott