Magh Ene denied in thrilling O’Doherty semi by McKaigue-coached St Mary’s

Magh Ene, Bundoran were pipped at the post in today’s Danske Bank O’Doherty Cup semi-final Burt.

Magh Ene, Bundoran 1-9 St Mary’s, Limavady 2-7

Chrissy McKaigue was the hero of the hour for County Derry side Slaughtneil in Saturday’s All-Ireland Club semi-final win over St Vincent’s and he was back on the sideline today coaching St Mary’s.

The Limavady school had goals in the second half by Paddy O’Kane and Sean Butcher as they edged out a gallant Bundoran, who had hit back through Timmy Govorov’s goal.

The game took some time to come to life and it was the 12^th minute before Cian McEniff’s free kick-started the scoring.

From a poor kick-out by Liam Wilson, Magh Ene might’ve got in for a goal, but Niall Carr pulled his shot wide of the post.

Carr fired over a free and then landed an excellent point from play after taking a pass by Rhys Brennan.

O’Kane kept St Mary’s on the Magh Ene coattails, with three points in the first half, but a Brian McHenry point ensured that Magh Ene had the lead, 0-4 to -0-3, at the break.

Within a minute of the re-start, disaster struck for Bundoran. Callum Brown laid off to O’Kane, whose fisted finish low to the net drover a dagger through the south Donegal men.

Two minutes later, Butcher riffled home from apenaltya fter Brown was deemed to have been fouled.

On 40 minutes, Magh Ene were right back in it as Paul Murphy brilliantly set up Govorov, whose finish was exquisit.

McEniff, Cillian McGloin and McGenry posted points to level the tie, but either side of an Oisin Walsh point for Magh Ene, Oisin Fleming from play and an O’Kane free steered St Mary’s to the win.

Magh Ene, Bundoran: Kelvin Mulhern; James Stewart, Matthew Duffy, Conor Jack McManus; Brian McHenry (0-2), Paul Murphy, Oisin Walsh (0-1); Cillian McGloin (0-1), Cian McEniff (0-3, 2f); Timmy Govorov (1-0), Luke Towey, Cian Brennan; Rhys Brennan, Niall Carr (0-2, 1f), Conor McCloone. Subs: Daithi McGloin for R.Brennan (45), Adam Gallagher for McGuinness (52).

St Mary’s, Limavady: Liam Wilson; Brendan O’Brien, Harry McLoughlin, Liam McGuinness; Sean Butcher (1-0), Sean McPoyle, Tiarnan Woods; Martin McGonigle, Mark Creane; Fintan Curley, Patrick O’Kane (1-5, 3f), Manus Quigley; Oisin Fleming (0-1), Callum Brown (0-1), Anthony McGuinness. Subs: Aiden Duddy for Curley (half-time), Eoin McDermott for McLoughlin (48).

Referee: Shaun Paul Doherty (Urris).