Honours even in MacLarnon Cup decider at Celtic Park

Dean Maguirc and Patrician will replay on Tuesday evening in Brewster Park 7:30pm

Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup final: Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore 1-10 Patrician, Carrickmacross 0-13

PETER Connolly had a free from 35 metres out in the third minute of added time to win Patrician, Carrickmacross their fifth Danske Bank MacLarnon title in the Celtic Park opener yesterday.

But, the Corduff man’s effort at his ninth score dropped just short and despite a further two minutes of play, neither school could engineer a winner. They will replay midweek at a venue to be confirmed.

A goal in the second minute was the start that first-time finalists Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore needed and it proved the difference between the teams for the rest of the opening half.

A Patrician attack was broken up and Carrickmore broke at pace. Seán Óg Teague nudged a punt into the area in front of the Carrickmacross goal and Odhrán Curran seemed to get a touch to direct it towards Shea Munroe, who palmed it home.

Carrickmore carried more threat as they moved forward and they probably should have ben further ahead at the break than 1-6 to 0-7.

Munroe had two more goal chances; one was smothered by Dion O’Gorman after 22 minutes and then a shot that he fired over the bar five minutes later.

The centre-forward, who ended with 1-2, had a tap-over free in the 28th minute to put his side five clear, but he opted to work a goal. The Monaghan defence, however, closed out the chance and then broke for Luke Poval to close the gap with a point at the other end.

Patrician couldn’t find a route through the Dean defence at the other end and relied on Connolly to keep them in touch with frees.

The Corduff man fired over five points in the opening half and his management team would have been happy enough not to be further than two points down at half-time.

The teams hit two points each in the opening minutes of the second half before Harry Reilly from a free and Connolly tied the score at 1-8 to 0-11. During the final quarter then it was score for score.

Connolly edged Patrician ahead with a free, Munroe, now at full-forward, fired over a leveller. With 52 minutes gone, Ryan McCallan hit a great score from wide on the right side, but within a minute Conor Meehan burst through the centre for a fine Carrickmacross score.

There were around 12 minutes of play left, but neither team could break the deadlock and it will take another 60 minutes at least to find the 2025 MacLarnon champions.

By Séamas McAleenan published in The Irish News February 09, 2025