ST LOUIS BALLYMENA’S Keelan Molloy scored two points in the last three minutes to give his side a narrow win over St Eunan’s College in the Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-final this afternoon.
St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny 0-8 St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena 1-6
It was a frustrating conclusion for the team managed by James Gordon, who were not at their best but still could certainly have taken something from the game on the 4G on the Derry GAA Centre of Excellence.
They had recovered from a concession of a first half goal to go into a decent position. Niall O’Donnell wasn’t at full pelt having carried a knee injury into the game, but was performing admirably with five points to his name.
Leading 0-8 to 1-4 with time almost up, the Letterkenny-based side just couldn’t see it out. At that stage Gordan had lost skipper Caoimhin Marley to injury, which meant a void at centre-field.
St Eunan’s went into the game without Rory Carr (shoulder), Kevin Grant (back) and Lee Doherty (work commitments) and eventually, they were missing just two many important players as St Louis built up a late head of steam. At one stage when a point up, O’Donnell had a routine free in front of the posts to double the advantage.
However, the kick was never taken as match referee Joe Mulholland had instead awarded a hop-ball after some St Eunan’s dissent. All these little things would’ve amalgamated to leave a sense of regret in those in black and red.
There was to be no repeat of the success in the competition St Eunan’s won two years ago – the last time they entered having been in the MacRory Cup in-between.
St Louis started the better of the two sides and scored the first two points of the day, with Eoin Campbell and John Eddie Convery on the mark, only for St Eunan’s to find their rhythm and level thanks to Odhran McFadden and O’Donnell’s first point of the afternoon.
However, a goal from Eamon Fyfe on 21 minutes was massive. The St Louis full-forward came deep and picked possession from St Eunan’s Ciaran Kelly before running all of 55 metres and then shooting into Matthew Gallagher’s bottom corner.
Scores were difficult to come by with both teams falling back into their shells and at half-time St Louis were 1-3 to 0-4 up.
With the aid of a slight wind, although nowhere near the gust that forced the initial abandonment when the fixture was initially meant to be played last Monday week, St Eunan’s started to make gradual inroads.
Things were becoming occasionally tetchy, although both teams were defending for their lives.
St Eunan’s managed to level it up at 0-7 to 1-4 thanks to two O’Donnell scores and a boomer from Marley.
It looked as though it was going to be their day as, after O’Donnell has edged St Eunan’s a point up, St Louis kicked three wides in succession – six in all in the second half as Eunan’s had none.
But St Louis were persistent and patient. Molloy, in the 57th minute, scored a fine individual effort when he zigzagged his way into position to tie up the match.
Then, in injury-time. Molloy scored a close range free and although St Eunan’s had one last chance when O’Donnell launched the ball into a crowded square, full-back Daniel Martin caught the ball at the second attempt on his goalline. It was the last play of the day.
St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny: Matthew Gallagher; Conor Callaghan, Mark McAteer, Sean Halvey; Michael McGroary, Aaron Deeney, Hugh O’Donnell; Caoimhín Marley (0-2), Kevin Kealy; Niall O’Donnell (0-5, 2f), James McSharry, Ciaran Kelly; Odhrán McFadden (0-1), Paul O’Brien, Ruairí Friel. Subs: Ryan McLaughlin for Kealy (42), Shay Doherty for Marley (50).
St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena: Eoin Marquess; Ryan McGarry, Daniel Martin, Michael Laverty; Connell Lemon, Conor Kinsella, Conal Cunning; Darren McCormick, James McNaughton; Sean Duffin, Ronan Kelly, Eoin Campbell (0-1); John Eddie Convery (0-2, 2f), Eamon Fyfe (1-0), Keelan Molloy (0-3, 2f). Subs: Eoghan Daly for Campbell (40), Colm Griffin for Kelly (50).
Referee: Joe Mulholland (Derry)
Tags:
