Cavan win Corn na nÓg thriller with late goals

Danske Bank Corn na nÓg semi-final
St Patrick’s Cavan 3-14 St Patrick’s Maghera 1-16
THERE were three goals over the course of the last seven minutes in this thrilling Danske Bank Corn na nÓg semi-final in Drumragh yesterday as St Patrick’s Cavan again produced a four points’ winning margin in a repeat of last May’s Dalton Cup decider with St Patrick’s Maghera.
This was a real humdinger and nothing separated two teams that really went at each other until the referee’s whistle sounded a little too soon, or a little too late, on a superb Maghera challenge.
In the opening half Favor Shehu goaled 20 minutes in, but Cavan also needed a late Shehu point to lead by 1-6 to 0-8 at the break.
On the re-start Ruairí McAleese pointed for the first of his four second half points to level and the teams went point for point throughout until, with 51 minutes gone Niall Barton edged Maghera into a 0-15 to 1-10 lead.
Cavan then burst down field for Cormac Galligan to shoot to the net and put his side ahead. Darragh Lovett quickly tagged on two points before Conor Downey and Cian Keaney exchanged points.
Maghera then conjured up a goal, a good team move which was finished to the net by Tiarnan McCormick. But Cavan were not finished and as the game slipped into injury-time Darragh Lovett found the Maghera net and his cousin Kevin quickly added a point to close out the Derry school’s chance of an equaliser.
The second semi-final will take place at Mid Ulster Sports’ Arena in Cookstown on Friday between Omagh CBS and St Mary’s Magherafelt.
Cavan : Darragh Lovett 1-9, 0-5 frees, Favor Shehu 1-1, Cormac Galligan 1-0, Cian Keaney 0-1, Oliver McCrystal 0-1, Ryan Boyle 0-1, Kevin Lovett 0-1.
Maghera : Tiarnan McCormick 1-0, Ruairí McAleese 0-5, 0-3 frees, Jack McGroarty 0-3, Niall Barton 0-3, Conor Downey 0-2, Eoin Higgins 0-2, Dara McPeake 0-1.

Corn na nOg semi final
Friday at 1.30pm in MUSA
Omagh CBS v St Mary’s Magherafelt