Magill is St Colman’s hero in MacRory

Danske Bank MacRory Cup

St Colman’s Newry 1-14 St Patrick’s Academy 1-13

Substitute Danny Magill was the hero for St Colman’s Newry in Saturday’s Danske Bank MacRory Cup game in St Paul’s Lurgan, firing over the winning point as the game entered added time.

It was a cruel twist for the Academy who had led, or at least were on level terms with, St Colman’s throughout the tie. The Tyrone side had a little time left to rescue something from the game, but were well-marshalled over the remaining three minutes of play and didn’t create a clear opening.

The Academy were out of the blocks early and when Oran Mallon shot their goal in the 16^th minute they five points to the good. However four minutes later Cian McConville grabbed a goal from St Colman’s and then added a point to slow that progress and right on the stroke of half-time Patrick Brooks pulled the sides level at 1-6 each.

For the neutral – and there were a few there to view – it had been an entertaining half with some fine scores from Mark Donnelly, Oran Mallon and Liam Hughes from the Academy and Finn McElroy, Eoghan Byrne and Conor McCartan for St Colman’s.

Again in the second half the Academy were first to score and with some great scores from Ryan McCabe, Mark Donnelly and Diarmuid McKeown they were 1-13 to 1-11 ahead after 53 minutes.

However Cian McConville pulled back a point with a free and Thomas Close drew the sides level before Danny Magill completed the smash and grab for St Colman’s who look to have almost certainly assured themselves of football after Christmas.

The Academy have still to play St Patrick’s Maghera (next Saturday), but what they can achieve from that fixture may well be decided by the Maghera v Cavan game tomorrow (TUESDAY).

St Colman’s : Cian McConville 1-4, 0-3 frees, Eoghan Byrne 0-3, Conor McCartan 0-1, Patrick Brooks 0-1, Finn McElroy 0-1, Thomas Travers 0-1, Jack O’Doherty 0-1, Thomas Close 0-1, Danny Magill 0-1.

St Patrick’s : Oran Mallon 1-2, Mark Donnelly 0-6, 0-4 frees, Ryan McCabe 0-2, Liam Hughes 0-2, Diarmuid McKeown 0-1.