ST EUNAN’S COLLEGE maintained their 100 per cent record in this season’s MacLarnon Cup with a high-scoring win over St Malachy’s in Maghera today.
St.Eunan’s College 5-13 St.Malachy’s 4-10
By Connor McGinty
It was a game fiercely-fought by both teams as the scoreline would suggest with a goal coming from throw-in for the Belfast side to rock St Eunan’s.
The Letterkenny student were under pressure, conceding points and two goals early on.
Eunan’s started playing out from the back but getting caught in possession became an issue.
With St.Malachy’s knowing that only a win would do, Bobby Burns was the man producing the goods scoring a goal and 5 points in the first half to make sure they stayed on top.
As the wind direction changed so too did the direction of the game. A fast-paced and scrappy game was brought to life by a great run from Aaron Deeney that ended up with a top corner finish to start the revival.
[adrotate group=”59″]Eunan’s were three points up at the break thanks to a goal each from Matthew McGovern, Shay Doherty and Deeney.
With St.Malachy’s playing long balls that were dropping into the full-forward line in the first half Eunan’s learnt from their mistakes and made sure this wasn’t an issue in the second half.
St Eunan’s went one better and adopted this themselves. closing down the opposition from Belfast.
[adrotate group=”53″]St.Malachy’s weren’t being able to get a long pass completed and it led to frustration, opening space on the flanks where Shay Doherty was able to make the most of it setting up several scores and adding a goal to his tally in the process.
A gap started to open one that saw Eunan’s hold a nine-point lead until a penalty was dispatched by Burn, scoring another goal for himself reducing the defecit to six.
It was a case of too little too late as Eunan’s ran out 5-13 to 4-10 winners.
[adrotate group=”46″]St Eunan’s now take a 100 per cent record into the quarter-finals in January with a much anticipated draw taking place in early December which will be closely watched by the two Gordon brothers, James and Neil.
St Eunan’s College: M Gallagher; S Halvey, A Deeney, M McGrory; B Diver, R Friel, B Gallagher; Shane Doherty, K Kealy; M McGovern, Shay Doherty, D McCroary; E Kelly, N O’Donnell, B Alcorn. Subs used: S McDevitt, T O’Boyle, E McCroary.
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