Loch an Iúir glory for St Ronan’s, Lurgan
December 05, 2024
Loch an Iúir glory for St Ronan’s, Lurgan
Late scores give St Joseph’s, Donaghmore remaining place in MacRory Cup last 16
Danske Bank Loch an Iuir Cup final
Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore 3-8 St Ronan’s, Lurgan 6-10
AN avalanche of second-half goals at the Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Grounds in Dungannon last night saw St Ronan’s, Lurgan lift the Danske Bank Loch an Iuir title in front of a sizeable crowd.
There was no sign of what was to come at the break, with the sides level 1-6 each in a period that only really came to life in the closing stages.
St Ronan’s enjoyed a blistering start to the game with points from Michael Mullholland, Jack Geoghegan and Rioghan McKinney all inside four minutes.
Gearoid McElhatton then opened the Dean’s account at the beginning of a good spell for the Tyrone school. Micheal McCrystal knocked over a brace of frees before Conor Molloy charged through from centre half-back to put them in front. PK Murphy and McCrystal then both tagged on points to leave it 0-6 to 0-3 by the 22nd minute.
The winners hit back to level thanks to scores from Michael McConville and Alfie Walsh before Sean McGlinchey palmed in a Dean Maguirc goal. St Ronan’s, though, had the final say of the half when Caiden Conway first-timed to the net to leave it all square.
The second half was only seconds old when Conway converted a penalty and the Armagh school never looked back. Murphy took a good score for Dean Maguirc before Geoghegan drove over at the other end.
At the end of the third quarter, a mistake in the Dean Maguirc defence saw Geoghegan first-time to the net to open up a gap.Eoin Geoghegan then came off the bench to raise a green flag and that was quickly followed by a brace of goals from Mulholland. To their credit Dean Maguirc played to the final whistle with McElhatton and Damhan Meenah, the latter’s coming moments after he had a penalty save. They proved to be only two consolation scores as St.Ronans emerged deserving winners on the night after a blistering second-half display.
By Séamas McAleenan and Kevin Kelly Published in The Irish News December 05, 2024
