St Pius X edge out St Mary’s in Loch an Iúir semi

Corn Loch an Iúir semi-final :
St Pius X Magherafelt 0-11 St Mary’s CBGS Belfast 2-3
This Corn Loch an Iúir semi-final was a lot tougher than the league game that St Pius X Magherafelt easily won. This time St Mary’s CBGS were really up for the encounter and with a bit of luck could have snatched the verdict with a third goal near the end.
However that would have been an injustice as St Pius X were the better footballing side throughout leading by 0-5 to 0-2 at the break and then scoring with five straight points in response to Niall Fallon firing home a goal to level the argument three minutes after the break.
Olaf Wisniewski pulled off a couple of great saves for Magherafelt, while others to show up well were Cormac Bateson, Finn Glavin, the roving Odhran Diamond and up front the twin scoring threat of Mark Doherty and Michael Forbes.
St Mary’s Rossa Morgan, Pearse Short, Adam Churchill, Conor Boyle and Niall Fallon all played well.
Forbes and Doherty each scored twice in the opening half and, after Fallon’s goal had taken St Mary’s back level at 1-2 to 0-5, the pair each hit the target twice more to make it 0-10 to 1-2.
Then a long ball in was fisted to the net by the towering Pearse Short and the game was once again in the melting pot.
Mark Doherty steadied St Pius X with his fifth point from play and, despite a point from Jerin Panikulangara and some close shaves, they held out for a two points’ win.
The second semi-final between St Paul’s Bessbrook and Patrician High Carrickmacross will be played on Wednesday 1pm in Silverbridge.
St Pius X: Mark Doherty 0-5, Michael Forbes 0-4, 0-3 frees, Conleth McGrogan 0-1, Ethan Johnston 0-1.
St Mary’s : Niall Fallon 1-1, Pearse Short 1-0, Jerin Panikulangara 0-1, Adam Churchill 0-1