Garland the main man as Patrician win play-off
Patrician High Carrickmacross 3-22 St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon 2-18
from Kevin Kelly in Emyvale
David Garland produced a scoring masterclass at Oliver Plunkett Park in Emyvale yesterday afternoon as Patrician High Carrickmacross defeated St Patrick’s Dungannon in a Danske Bank MacRory playoff thriller.
The full forward was unmarkable, finishing with an outstanding 2-13 to his name but, despite his contribution, it took a point with the last kick from Andrew Woods to force extra time for the Monaghan lads.
Dungannon raced into a three point lead with efforts from Paul Donaghy and Liam Nugent (2) but a 9th minute Garland goal levelled matters.
Donaghy and Garland traded points before wing half back Michael Connolly took a fine score to put Carrickmacross three in front.
Dungannon looked to be in trouble but injury time points from Stephen Talbot and Eoghan Rankin kept them in contention at the break, 1-6 to 0-8.
Garland and Mark Donnelly exchanged points on the restart before the latter was fouled off the ball and Donaghy converted the resulting 35th minute penalty.
Oran Mallon added a point for Dungannon before Donaghy edged them two in front. Garland though caused panic every time he gained possession and by the end of the third quarter he had added a second major with Callum Murray pointing for a 2-12 to 1-12 lead.
Dungannon though kept plugging away with Rankin and Donnelly both on target from play before a free from the latter levelled matters.
Sean Burns put Carrickmacross in front and when Garland added another in injury time it looked all over.
There was still plenty of drama though as referee Niall McKenna awarded Dungannon another penalty which Donaghy again converted. With the last kick Woods forced extra time, 2-15 each.
Carrickmacross proved the better side in extra time with Liam óg Murray getting their third goal and that man Garland firing over another five points as Dungannon crashed out.
Carrickmacross scorers : D Garland 2-13, A Woods 0-3, L Murray 1-0, D Connolly 0-1, M Connolly 0-1, C Murray 0-1, S Burns 0-1, E Walsh 0-1, J McMahon 0-1
Dungannon scorers : P Donaghy 2-5, E Rankin 0-4, M Donnelly 0-3, L Nugent 0-2, O Mallon 0-2, S Talbot 0-1, C Morgan 0-1
