Maghera edge out Cavan to make last four
January 17, 2022
MACRORY CUP 
St Patrick’s Maghera staged a rousing second half comeback to pip St Patrick’s Cavan to a place in the Danske Bank MacRory Cup Semi Finals.
They had trailed by six points at one stage in the first half, with Conor Casey grabbing the all important goal for the Cavan side. That saw Cavan lead by 1-7 to 0-4, but two crucial points from Maghera full forward Shea McKenna just before the break, the first a superb long-range effort, kept his side in touch.
Cavan started the game in style, with Darragh Lovett notching three opening points in the opening passages of play. Maghera were struggling for scores, and were relying on Callum Downey frees to keep in touch. Lovett added a mark and Oliver McCrystal fired over for Cavan before Casey’s goal.
McKenna’s two points before the break gave Maghera something to cling to as they regrouped at half time, and they emerged a different animal after the break. They rattled off four points in quick succession to level the scores, and although Lovett edged Cavan ahead again, Maghera hit the lead for the first time just before the water break with scores from Luke Diamond and Rory McGill.
The momentum was all with the Derry side now, as they powered towards the finish line. The impressive McKenna added his eighth point of the day, with McGill and Downey adding scores to seal an impressive comeback victory.
Maghera: C Chambers; C Shiels, A McLaughlin, F McEldowney; P McGurk, J Moore, A McGonigle (0-1); P Walls, D McPeake; R McGill (0-2); M Doherty, T McCormick (0-1), E Scullion; S McKenna (0-8, 4f), C Downey (0-4, 2f)
Subs: L Diamond Doherty (HT), C O’Kane for McLaughlin (blood sub)
Cavan: C Donohoe; J McBreen, C O’Brien; C Smith; C Clarke, K Lovett, O McCrystal; R Brady, P Smyth; E Brady, C Galligan, L McEntee; C Casey, D McSorley, D Lovett.
Subs: E Shehu for Brady (HT), F Shehu for Galligan (38), M McDermott for Clarke (45), F Riley for O’Brien (49)
Maghera scorers: S McKenna 0-8 (4F), C Downey 0-4 (2F), R McGill 0-2, T McCormack, A McGonigle, L Diamond 0-1 each.
Cavan scorers: D Lovett 0-8 (5F, 2M); C Casey 1-0; K Lovett, D McSorley, O McCrystal, J McBreen 0-1 each
Referee: Sean Hurson
