Magnificent McGuigan drags Maghera into Hogan final
St Patrick’s Maghera 2-14 Summerhill, Sligo 3-10
From Kevin Kelly for the Irish News in Brewster Park
St Patrick’s Maghera showed tremendous character and a never say die spirit at Brewster Park this afternoon to perform a Houdini act and reach the Hogan Cup final at the expense of a gallant Summerhill side.
This was a contest that had everything and showcased all that is good about Colleges’ football.
The Derry lads raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead early on and they looked like they were going to canter to victory but the Connacht champions produced a sterling comeback.
Down by four at half time Summerhill blasted in two goals in an explosive five minute spell in the second half to get their noses in front. During that time they also lost centre half back Sean Power to a straight red card – but that seemed to galvanise them.
With three minutes to go Maghera looked to be heading out when they trailed by three points but that’s when they really rose to the occasion.
Conor Glass, who was unable to start due to sickness, came on and that gave his team mates and their large support a massive lift.
In the final seconds of normal time the outstanding Shane McGuigan won a penalty and Francis Kearney stepped up to convert it via the left hand post. With the game three minutes into injury time, McGuigan held his nerve to convert a free, which also needed the help of the woodwork, as they edged a titanic struggle.
Despite being without Glass and defender Keelan Feeney the Derry lads got into their stride quickly and by the 22nd minute they had established a 1-5 to 0-1 lead with the outstanding McGuigan getting the goal and Paddy McCormack and Oisin McWilliams hitting points.
Sixty seconds later the impressive Kyle Cawley got a Summerhill goal and Cathal Herron and Nathan Rooney tagged on points. The gap had been trimmed to two but efforts from McWilliams and McGuigan ensured that Maghera led 1-8 to 1-4 at the break.
By the eighth minute of the second half Maghera had extended their advantage with Kearney, McWilliams and McGuigan on target but a Herron goal took Summerhill right back into the game. They then lost defender Power but when Cian Lally was fouled they were awarded a penalty.
Cawley’s effort was saved by keeper Sean Cassidy but a re-take was ordered and he made no mistake second time round with a finish low to the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The momentum had now completely switched and when Rooney and Stephen Mulligan put them three clear they looked to have done enough.
But in that dramatic finish Maghera showed what they are made of to reach the decider on April 2nd.
St Patrick’s Maghera: S Cassidy; O McKeever (0-1), P Turner, C Mulholland; P McCormack (0-1), S Downey, C McAllister; P Kearney, J Doherty; D McPeake, P Quigg, O McWilliams (0-2); C Darragh, S McGuigan (1-8, 3f), F Kearney (1-1, 1-0 pen).
Subs: F Higgins (0-1) for Mulholland, P McLaughlin for McKeever, C Glass for McWilliams, M Mullan for Darragh
Summerhill Sligo: O Conway; C McGovern, A Cummins, B Cox; D O’Hara, S Power, S Mulligan (0-1); P O’Connor (0-1), K Banks; C Lally, C Herron (1-2), D Fallon; K Cawley (2-2, 1-0 pen, 1 “45”), N Rooney (0-4, 3f), R Sweeney. Subs: C Darcy for Sweeney, K Connell for Cummins, D Kilrehill for Cawley [BC)
Referee: N McKenna, Monaghan
