Callan lose out to Maghera in All-Ireland B schools hurling semi-final
St Patrick’s Maghera 2-14 Coláiste Abhann Rí Callan 0-19
IN the third minute of added time Coláiste Abhann Rí substitute Alfie Lynch batted the sliotar to the St Patrick's Maghera net.
For a moment it seemed that the dream of adding the Paddy Buggy Cup to the Leinster title, won in January, was within reach but ultimatley the dream soon ended for the Kilkenny school.
With the referee immediately ruling the score out for a "square ball infringement". It was a big call especially given that there was just time for one more play - but it looked to be the correct one and therefore a free from team captain Rian Collins a few minutes earlier in Longford had seen St Patrick’s become the third successive Ulster school to reach the final.
Maghera can count themselves fortunate enough to make it through this semi-final as they under-performed on the day with numerous mistakes and a wide count that reached 16 before the final whistle. Their goals - both scored by Pádraig O'Kane - were crucial to the outcome.
It took seven minutes for Maghera to register their first score through PJ Glover’s effort from well out on the wing. There had already been a couple of soft wides from the Derry side and a brilliant save from Donncha Collins who turned a shot from Aidan Culleton off a post.
Glover’s point made it 0-3 to 0-1. Pádraig O’Kane and Glover closed the gap only for Cathal Russell’s accuracy from frees to put Coláiste Abhann Rí three up with 13 minutes gone.
O’Kane levelled the scores with a driving run and goal soon after and the teams traded scores over the second quarter for Maghera to go in at the break with a narrow lead of 1-7 to 0-9.
John O’Meara tied the teams on the re-start only for Collins to respond with a point from a free and then a low shot from Pádraig O’Kane went all the way to the Callan net.
Odhrán Doherty fired over a long free from inside his own half to make it 2-9 to 0-10 before the Kilkenny side began to claw their way back into the game.
Substitute Alfie Lynch made his mark with a number of possessions and then a huge point from inside his own half. Russell fired over a couple of frees.
There were wides from both sides; Russell pulled a couple wide – as did Maghera with O’Kane just inches away from a hat-trick. Then Callan centre-forward Scott McDonald crashed a shot off the Maghera cross-bar.
Nevertheless points from another sub Aidan O’Shea and free-taker Russell closed the game to a single point with five minutes left on the clock.
Sean O’Kane responded with a Maghera point and at the other end John O’Meara picked off his fourth point of the game before Pádraig O’Kane was taken down in the 59th minute for a free that Rian Collins converted.
Russell hit back with a point and then came the drama of Alfie Lynch's "goal" being ruled out at the death.
Maghera will now meet Tralee CBS in the final on March 21st. The Munster champions, who have also qualified for the Hogan Cup final on St Patrick’s Day, defeated Portumna Community School by 1-19 to 0-20 in Tulla earlier on Saturday.
Teams and Scorers
St Patrick’s Maghera: P O’Kane 2-1, R Collins 0-5 (fs), Pj Glover and S O’Kane 0-2 each, C McCloskey, C Gallagher, F Cartin and O Doherty (f) 0-1 each.
Coláiste Abhainn Rí: C Russell 0-10 (0-8 fs), J O’Mara 0-4, S McDonald 0-2, A Lynch, N O’Meara and A O’Shea 0-1 each
St Patrick’s Maghera: D Collins, P Peoples, D O’Neill, O Burke, C Gallagher, O Doherty, D McEldowney, D McCloskey, N McNicholl, C McCloskey, P O’Kane, PJ Glover, R Collins capt, F Cartin, S O’Kane
Subs used: D McKaigue, O O’Neill, R O’Loughlin, C McKenna
Coláiste Abhainn Rí: J Kennedy; D O'Sullivan, T Deegan, S McGrath; D Hennessey, C Lawton, N O'Meara; D Lyons, C Tobin; O Molloy, A Culleton, S McDonald; C Russell, N Cahill capt, J O'Meara.
Subs used: A Lynch, A O’Shea