Maghera win Superb Oisin McGrath final
Danske Bank Oisin McGrath Cup Final
St Patrick’s Maghera 5-10 St Patrick’s Academy 4-6
The Danske Bank Oisin McGrath Cup grade A final in MUSA yesterday was a terrific advertisement for up and coming talent in Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Maghera came from 0-7 to 2-3 down at the break to become only the second team after Omagh CBS to collect the trophy with Adam McLaughlin, Peter Bryson, Dara McGurk and Eoin Scullion superb in defence, Patrick Walls and Conlan O’Kane an impressive midfield pairing and Ryan McNicholl, Niall Barton and Eoin Higgins stars up front.
The Academy may have lost their control of the game shortly after half-time, but they also had stars in Matthew McCallion, Conor McElhatton, Ryan Lavery, Theo Lowe and Ben Cullen.
Lowe and Mark Duffin scored the Academy’s first half goals, but it was a 2-2 blast from Maghera early in the second half that left the biggest imprint on the game.
Niall Barton was hauled down in the area and Conlan O’Kane fired home the spot-kick to put Maghera into the lead and shortly afterwards Patrick Walls bundled a high ball over the line.
Although Ben Cullen came back with an Academy point, Barton struck another third goal for Maghera.
The last ten minutes saw two goals for each side – the Academy’s from Ryan Lavery and Ronan Cassidy with Barton and Ruairí McAleese responding for Maghera – but there was little chance of the Derry side capitulating at that stage of the game.
The finals of grades B to F of the Oisin McGrath compeition will also take place over the course of the next fortnight.
St Patrick’s Maghera: Niall Barton 2-2, Patrick Walls 2-1, Conlan O’Kane 1-2, Eoin Higgins 0-2, Ryan McNicholl 0-1, Ruairí McAleese 0-1, Connlaodh McCann 0-1.
St Patrick’s Dungannon : Theo Lowe 1-3, Ryan Lavery 1-1, Ronan Cassidy 1-0, Mark Duffin 1-0, Ben Cullen 0-2.
Follow Oisin McGrath Foundation on Twitter @oisinsmemory
