Comhghairdeas to the Ruairí Óg lads on the panels of both schools - St Killians are in the Danske Bank Foresters’ Final and Cross & Passion who have qualified for the Masita All-Ireland Schools’ Buggy Cup Final Senior B Hurling.
Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final
St Killian’s, Garron Tower 1-13 St Patrick’s, Maghera 0-10
ST KILLIAN’S, Garron Tower produced a top drawer second half performance to reach their fourth successive Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup final at Mallusk yesterday.
St Patrick’s, Maghera had beaten them with a late point in last season’s final and it looked as if the Derry boys were going to repeat the dose when they led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time.
They went into an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead with a point from Richie Mullan and three frees from Odhrán McKeever.
The Tower worked their way back into the game between the 16th and 20th minutes with two Conal McAteer frees either side of points from Daniel Black and Leo Morgan.
Maghera however finished the half strongly with two points each for Mullan and McKeever to open up a three points lead.
St Killian’s however moved up a gear after the break and drew level in the 39th minute with a long-range free from Shane O’Connor.
A minute later Eoin Magee bagged the only goal of the game after good work on the wing from David Kilgore and the Antrim coast side was on their way.
An injury, forcing the withdrawal of captain and free-taker Odhrán McKeever, left a hole in the Maghera midfield and they only managed to pick off two points during the second half, both frees, while the Tower booked their place in the final once more with points from Leo and James Morgan, David Kilgore and an excellent solo effort from Daniel Black.
The second semi-final, between competition favourites St Mary’s, Belfast and St Louis, Ballymena takes place FRIDAY, with the final next Wednesday or Thursday.
St Killian’s : P McMullan, J Morgan 0-1, L Gillan, E McQuillan, S Magill capt, S O’Connor 0-1 free, S Murphy, D Black 0-2, C McAteer 0-4 frees, S Walsh, L Morgan 0-3, F McCurry, R McCambridge, E Magee 1-1, D Kilgore 0-1.
Sub : F Walker for S Walsh.
St Patrick’s : D Quinn, C Mac Giolla Fhiondáin, T Walsh, S McNicholl, C McGuigan, B O’Kane, R Corey, O McKeever capt 0-5 frees, S Higgins, S Quinn, P McLaughlin, LE Campbell, C McCartney, R Mullan 0-5, 0-2 frees, R Rafferty.
Subs : C Campbell for O McKeever, M Quinn for C Campbell.
Masita All-Ireland Schools’ Buggy Cup semi-final (Senior B Hurling)
Cross & Passion, Ballycastle 1-10 St Joseph’s, Tulla 0-12
DANSKE Bank Mageean Cup champions Cross & Passion, Ballycastle have reached their second successive Masita All-Ireland Schools’ Buggy Cup final following a superb performance in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.
Despite falling two points behind in the opening ten minutes, Ballycastle got back on track with an excellent goal from Shan McGrath, their opening score in the 11th minute.
Although Tulla pulled back to level at 1-2 to 0-5 with frees from Brian Fahy, Ballycastle pulled clear with a run of four unanswered points, two for free-taker Cormac McClafferty and one each for McGrath and Johnny McErlean, the latter a huge score after McErlean had caught Ciaran Butler’s puck-out, turned a pointed from 70 metres.
Changing over 1-6 to 0-6 down, Fahy and Darren Chaplin narrowed the gap to the minimum early in the second half.
However Ballycastle hit another good patch and entering the last ten minutes, points from McErlean, McClafferty, Diarmuid McShane and a fine solo effort from TT Butler had pushed them three clear of the Munster champions.
Fahy and Gary Cooney reduced it to the minimum again leaving the Ulster champions to hold out for the last five minutes. They did, turning away two long range frees in the last minute to reach the decider.
In the other semi-final, Mountrath CS from Laois swamped St Calasantus College, Oranmore by 3-22 to 1-9 to mark themselves down as favourites for the final in Semple Stadium on Holy Saturday.
Cross & Passion : C Butler, C Blair, S McBride, PJ Graham capt., C McCaughan, OD Laverty, C Boyd, TT Butler, S Hunter, J McErlean, C McClafferty, C Patterson, A O’Boyle, S McGrath, D McShane.
Sub : C Dallas for C Patterson.
St Joseph’s scorers : B Fahy 0-7 frees, D Chaplin 0-3, M Daly 0-1, C Cooney 0-1.
Beir Bua