CLIFFORD SHATTERS MAGHERA TITLE HOPES
Masita Hogan Cup Final
St Brendan’s Killarney 2-13 St Patrick’s Maghera 2-6
Michael McMullan reports from Croke Park
A devastating late scoring barrage including two goals from man of the match David Clifford saw the Hogan Cup head south to Kerry for a third successive year.
St Brendan’s were red-hot favourites after brushing aside all before them on the way to Saturday’s Croke Park showdown. But Maghera matched them every step of the way.
In the build-up up ‘The Sem’ were questioned about their ability to win tight games and manager Garry McGrath spoke after the game about their desire to silence the doubters.
“I have been asked time and time again. ‘Ye haven’t been in a battle. You have never come from behind. How are you going to cope?’ We were relishing it. We knew the character that was in the squad.”
With three minutes of normal time remaining the sides were level and a Killarney counter-attack went the entire length of the field before Evan Cronin set up Clifford for a fisted goal that changed the game.
A second Clifford goal, a cracker after David Shaw picked him out with a pinpoint pass killed Maghera’s comeback hopes.
The MacRory champions had recovered from the blow of having their captain Conor Glass sent off with fifteen minutes remaining for an alleged striking incident after referee David Gough consulted with his umpire.
“It wouldn’t be Conor Glass’ form. I would have to see very strong video evidence to believe that Conor Glass did anything,” stated Maghera’s Paul Hughes.
The Derry men started brightly but Killarney ‘keeper David Carroll made a brilliant save to deny Francis Kearney from a 5th minute penalty.
Minutes later his twin brother Patrick made no mistake with a well-taken goal when Conall Darragh set him up after a probing ball from Conor Glass.
The Derry men were playing the better football but by half time they should have been more than a point ahead.
In the early stages of the second half Francis Kearney set up Shane McGuigan for Maghera’s second goal and the momentum was beginning to swing in their favour.
Killarney pegged themselves back into the game with points from David Shaw and Clifford before referee Gough called on hawkeye for a decision on a borderline Paddy Quigg chance.
There was a mixed message on the big screen with the flight of the ball appearing inside the post but ‘Níl’ saw it register as a ninth Maghera wide with five minutes to play.
Winning boss McGrath outlined how his team sharpened their competitive edge.
“We play 18 against 15 in trial games and they are competitive and we just knew that with five minutes to go if we were still in the game then we’d be there or thereabouts.”
St Brendan’s then lost their centre-back and captain Dan O’Brien after an off the ball incident with Shane McGuigan.
With gaps appearing and Clifford now playing closer to goal at full forward, Killarney went to town on Maghera in the closing stages with the decisive late scoring burst.
Paul Hughes admitted that his team didn’t make enough of their superiority, but was full of praise for his charges.
“We didn’t get over the line today, but it doesn’t take away from what they have achieved in their time they have been with us. They have pushed us to the top end of school’s football again which is where St Patrick’s Maghera wants to be.”
Maghera: S Ó Caiside; O McKeever, P Turner, K Feeney; P McCormick, S Downey (0-1), C McAllister; C Glass, J Doherty (0-1); P Kearney (1-0), P Quigg, O McWilliams (0-1); C Darragh, S McGuigan (1-3, 0-2 frees), F Kearney.
Sub: F Higgins for C Darragh (41).
Wides: 9
Black Cards: None
Yellow cards: O McWilliams (5), C McAllister (61).
Red Cards: C Glass (45)
Killarney: D Carroll; M Potts, C O’Donoghue, C Campbell; D Naughton, D O’Brien, N Donohoe; L O’Donoghue (0-1 ‘45’), B Courtney; D Moynihan (0-4), D Clifford (2-5, 0-2 frees), P McCarthy; E Cronin (0-1), D Shaw (0-1), M Casey (0-1).
Subs: W Courtney for M Casey (43), D Spillane for P McCarthy (60).
Wides: 8
Black Cards: None
Yellow cards: E Cronin (41), D Moynihan (61)
Red Cards: D O’Brien (55)
Referee: D Gough (Meath)
Image from www.sportsjoe.ie
