Aquinas clinch first McLarnon Cup

Aquinas clinch first McLarnon Cup success after a night to remember at the Dub

Danske Bank McLarnon Cup Final

St Eunan’s Letterkenny 0-5-2-12 Aquinas

AQUINAS became the first Belfast team to lift the Danske Bank McLarnon Cup since Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock shared the trophy with St Pius’ during the Covid-pandemic in 2020 as they comfortably shook off the challenge of St Eunan’s with a 2-12-0-5 win in the decider at the Dub on Thursday evening.

After starting slowly in the opening quarter the Ravenhill Road outfit struck the games opening goal on the stroke of half time through JJ Higgins and a Jacko Watson goal approaching the midway point in the second half gave his side breathing space as they kicked onto claim their first ever McLarnon Cup triumph.

JJ Higgins celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal in first half injury time, a score that sent Aquinas in at the break in high spirits
St Eunan’s made most of the early runnings on a wet and blustery evening in South Belfast. Shea Boyle shot wide from his sides first opportunity and he would create his sides first goal scoring chance.

Driving in at the byline the corner forward attempted to fist the ball into the path of Jack Duddy in the small square, though Aquinas keeper Cormac McGarry made a vital interception.

It was St Eunan’s who registered the opening score on the eighth minute through a converted Callum McGilloway free and the Letterkenny outfit saw a further goal chance go abegging.

Aquinas shot stopper McGarry applied enough initial pressure and after the ball broke for Matthew McGinley at the near post, Darragh McDonald deflected his shot behind at the expense of a 45’ that was played short and came to nothing in the end.

Parity was restored after 17-minutes as Conall Vaugh angled a shot over from Conn Huston’s pass.

Aquinas then hit the front when midfielder Padraig O’Hare sent a shot sailing over the bar less than 60-seconds after drawing level and JJ Higgins converted from a free to double the advantage.

The Belfast side were firmly in the ascendancy and conjured up the first two-pointed score of the contest after Conn Huston played a one-two and dropped over a shot from outside the arc.

On the stroke of half time the game’s opening goal arrived and it was Aquinas who claimed it. St Eunan’s keeper Cormac Crossan’s kick out spilled in the sticky surface and broke to Rhys Bray who gathered and popped off to Conall Vaugh, he in turn picked out JJ Higgins whose low shot found the bottom far corner to ensure his side held a 1-5-0-1 lead at the interval.

Midfielder Padraig McQuaid breaks clear of two St Eunan’s opponents.
Aquinas extended their lead after the break through a converted Higgins free, though much needed scores from Shea Boyle and Callum McGilloway (free) had St Eunan’s on the comeback trail.

A magnificent interception from Higgins in midfield was capped with a deserved score and Oscar O’Connor clipped a further point minutes later as Aquinas were 1-8-0-3 to the good.

The contest was surely settled with Aquinas finding their second goal in the 43rd minute. Higgins was the architect again, winning possession and a popped pass inside found Jacko Watson- who advanced and his shot squeezed beyond the grasp of Crossan to make it 2-8-0-3.

Crossan did well to prevent a third goal three minutes later but an angled point from goal scorer Watson sufficed.

St Eunan’s late pressure for a consolation goal was in vain and instead they had to settle for late scores from McGilloway- one from a free and the other from play in added time.

Champions Aquinas were always in control however and they added three further points before the conclusion.

Substitute Johnny Higgins found James McEvoy to register, Higgins then got in on the act before Jacko Watson capped a fine evening with his second score that brought the evenings scoring to a close.

Referee Paul Gallagher’s final whistle sounded shortly after Watson’s concluding score and the joy was unbridled for the Aquinas players, coaches and supporters who celebrated their first ever McLarnon Cup triumph.

ST EUNAN’S LETTERKENNY: C Crossan, N Casburn, L McGinley, M Galvin, C Cassidy, E Day, C Doherty, C McGilloway (0-4, 0-3f), P Devine, J Duddy, M McGinley, J Robinson, E Hickey, M Enright, S Boyle (0-1). SUBS: A McKinley for J Duddy (HT), S Sweeney for M Enright (36), J Cannon for E Hickey (36), P Mullan for J Robinson (53).

AQUINIS: C McGarry, O Quinn, F Heaney, O O’Connor (0-1), C Vaugh (0-1), C Frazer, D McQuaid, P O’Hare (0-1), J McEvoy (0-1), V Marttila, JJ Higgins (1-3, 0-2f), R Bray, F McArdle, C Huston (1×0-2pt), J Watson (1-2). SUBS: Johnny Higgins (0-1) for R Bray (32), J Dixon for O Quinn (45), S Bell for O O’Connor (53), R O’Donnell for V Marttila (59).
REFEREE: Paul Gallagher (TYRONE)

 

By Kevin Herron from the Dub Arena