Danske Bank Foresters Cup quarter-finals
St Louis’, Ballymena 2-14 Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 2-11
St Killian’s, Garron Tower 1-15 St Patrick’s, Maghera 3-8
THE two north Antrim schools – St Louis’, Ballymena and St Killian’s, Garron Tower – ended Derry interest in the Danske Bank Foresters Cup yesterday with victories in a thrilling quarter-final double-header bill at the Ulster University campus in Coleraine.
A smart save in added time from Dylan McLaughlin, after Ultan McCloskey’s 65 had come back off a post, was instrumental in getting St Killian’s over the line against St Patrick’s, Maghera.
The Tower had the breeze behind them in the opening half and led by 1-10 to 0-3 at the break, the goal coming from Charlie Black with several points from Connlaoth McNaughton.
Owen O’Neill’s goal got the second half off to a cracking start and two points from McCloskey frees narrowed the gap significantly. However, Connlaodh and Dylan McNaughton tagged on scores, with Paddy Morgan excellent at full-back, and St Killian’s were able to absorb a goal from Sean O’Kane midway through the half.
The Tower were six up with five minutes left, but a goal and two points from Fionn Cartin left them hanging on for the victory that sees them into a derby semi-final with Cross & Passion, Ballycastle.
In the first game it was St Louis’ who took advantage of the strong wind to build up a commanding half-time lead of 1-11 to 0-3 against Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.
Éanna McGuckian, Joe Casey, Neil Rogers and Dylan O’Boyle all registered points before Emmett óg Mac Íomhair got Gaelcholáiste on the board with a seventh-minute score. By the time Mac Iomhair scored his side’s second point 15 minutes later, Ballymena had nine scores racked up and McGuckian added a goal five minutes before the break to give them a decent cushion.
Now Gaelcholáiste had the wind and, with Dylan Ó hEireamhoinn leading the charge from centre-forward, they began to eat into the lead. However’ St Louis’ were able to respond with a couple of points before Euan Molloy hit a second goal for them in the 44th minute to make it 2-13 to 0-8.
Ó hEireamhoinn’s goal a minute later set up a grandstand finish. They added two points and then a second goal from Ó hEireamhoinn and a point from Mac Íomhair left just three points between the teams with five minutes left.
Despite intense pressure in the final stages, St Louis’ kept their shape to get into the semi-finals where they will meet the winners of Monday’s quarter-final between St Mary’s CBGS and Rathmore Grammar.
St Killian’s Connlaoth McNaughton 0-5; C Black 1-1; D McNaughton & R Leech 0-2 each; D Laverty, Cahir McNaughton, R Magee, C Graham & S McQuillan 0-1 each
St Patrick’s F Cartin 1-2; O O’Neill 1-1; U McCloskey 0-4; S O’Kane 1-0; PJ Glover 0-1
St Louis’ É McGuckian & E Molloy 1-2 each; J Casey & N Rogers 0-3 each; E Curry 0-2; D O’Boyle & O McClements 0-1 each
Gaelcholáiste D Ó hEireamhóinn 2-4; E óg Mac Íomhair 0-4; C Ó Giolláin, C Ó Catháin & K Ó Ceallaigh 0-1 each