History made for Maghera in Danske Bank Leonard Cup

History made for St. Patrick’s Maghera in Danske Bank Leonard Cup final!

It didn’t quite work out for first time finalists Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in their recent evening’s historic Danske Bank Leonard Cup final in Owenbeg – the first time two Derry schools have met in a Grade A hurling final. But it was yet more history made for St. Patrick’s Maghera as they won an entertaining game 5-15, 2-4.

The first quarter was competitive enough with Gaelcholáiste more than matching multi times winners St Patrick’s Maghera.

Joseph Conway opened the scoring for Maghera, but two frees from Harry Ó Cearnaigh edged Gaelcholáiste ahead until Conway notched his second point in the 12th minute. Donncha Collins from a free and Conway again started to open a gap and that gap widened when Dara McKenna goaled in the 20th minute to make it 1-4 to 0-2.

However within a couple of minutes Sean Pól Ó Ceallaigh had responded with a good finish at the other end.

Over the last seven minutes of the half though, Maghera upped their game with two points each from Collins and team captain Don Mulholland and Mulholland also found the top corner of the net as the half went into added time.

Gaelcholáiste’s woe was complete when they lost a player to a red card and Collins landed the free to put them on the ropes with a lead of 2-9 to 1-2 at the break.

But Maghera had to weathered a mini storm from their Dungiven neighbours at the start of the second half. Harry Óg Ó Cearnaigh with two points and Kian Ó Ceallaigh’s goal doubled Gaelcholáiste’s first half account inside seven minutes. But they couldn’t sustain the pressure and Maghera drove on. Mulholland hit his second goal and Collins blasted a free home off a post, while substitutes Thomas Leadon and Ronan O’Loughlin inflated their goal tally towards the end of play.

Undoubtedly Maghera’s experience of this level of competition was a key element in how they dealt with the enthusiasm of the Gaelcholáiste challenge before pulling clear. They had dominant players at the back in Dara McKaigue, Dan McEldowney and Dara McKenna while up front the diminutive Joseph Conway, Don Mulholland and Oisín Burke’s driving runs caused problems.

Nevertheless Gaelcholáiste competed well with Cillian and Brógan Ó Dubhghail-Ó Cinnéide, Seán Mac Conmidhe and the Ó Ceallaigh clan all working hard. The team’s achievement was to make the final in just their second season at the top level and they will do well to remember that it took St Patrick’s a number of years before they became competitive at the top level back in the day.

The real winner of course is Derry underage hurling with 30-40 boys in that age-group getting quality games at this level.

Scorers
St Patrick’s: D Mulholland 2-2, D Collins 1-4, 1-2 fs, D McKenna, T Leadon and R O’Loughlin 1-0 each, J Conway 0-4, O Burke 0-3, C McDonnell 0-2

Gaelcholáiste : K Ó Ceallaigh and SP Ó Ceallaigh 1-0 each, H Ó Cearnaigh 0-4 fs.

 

By Seamas McAleenan 20 Dec 2024 Published on derrynow.com