All-Donegal Markey Cup final confirmed

February 14, 2017

Danske Bank Markey Cup semi final

Coláiste na Carraige 1-6 St.Patrick’s, Keady 0-8

There will be a Donegal derby in the Danske Bank Markey Cup final after Coláiste na Carraige edged out St Patrick’s Keady yesterday afternoon in Garvaghey to join Coláiste Colmchille Ballyshannon in next week’s decider.

Things were very tight in both halves yesterday but Coláiste na Carraige used their limited openings to better effect than their south Armagh opponents.

The south west Donegal side got off to a fantastic start with Shane Gillespie’s 12th minute goal sandwiched between points from Aaron Doherty and Lanty Molloy – but they didn’t score during the second quarter at all!

Keady eventually got going and by the break they had closed the gap to a single point, 1-2 to 0-4, with points from Piaras Lennon, Ryan Watters (2) and Martin Carr.

Keady were also guilty of a few bad misses during that second quarter when points seemed handy and Jim Short, one of their most impressive players, bounced a great effort back off the crossbar.

Although Aaron Doherty extended Carrick’s slender lead with a point on the re-start it was no surprise that two points from Lennon tied the teams on 40 minutes.

Doherty and Shane Gillespie responded with Carrick points only for Shane McKeever and Paul Green to tie the teams with a few minutes on the clock.

There were precious few opportunities for scores in the remainder of the playing time, but two minutes into added time, Aaron Doherty contributed his only point from open play and it was enough for Coláiste na Carraige to make it through.

Coláiste na Carraige: Shane Gillespie 1-1, Aaron Doherty 0-4, 0-3 frees, Lanty Molloy 0-1

St Patrick’s : Piaras Lennon 0-3, 0-2 frees, Ryan Watters 0-2, Martin Carr 0-1, Shane McKeever 0-1, Paul Green 0-1.