Two late Molloy points nail St Eunan’s MacLarnon hopes
Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-final
St Eunan’s Letterkenny 0-8 St Louis Ballymena 1-6
Two points from Keelan Molloy in the last three minutes decided a low-scoring and exciting Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-final in Owenbeg on Saturday.
Niall O’Donnell, who fielded despite obviously carrying a knee injury, had given St Eunan’s Letterkenny the lead for the first time as the clock ticked away.
St Louis seemed to be kicking themselves out of contention with three more wides around that time, bringing their tally to six in the second half as opposed to none from the Donegal men.
However they persisted and Molloy scored a fine individual point when he zigzagged his way into position to level up the match at 0-8 to 1-5.
Then in injury-time the Dunloy forward scored a close range free and, with O’Donnell’s late effort dropping just short, it was the decisive score after 60+ minutes of play.
In hindsight, there were small things that went against St Eunan’s – the loss of midfielder Caoimhín Marley to injury, a routine free for O’Donnell in front of the posts to put them two ahead was cancelled by referee Joe Mulholland after some dissent from other Donegal forwards.
St Louis though started the better of the two sides and opened the scoring with points from Eoin Campbell and John Eddie Convery.
Although St Eunan’s levelled thanks to points from Odhran McFadden and O’Donnell, an excellent individual goal from Eamon Fyfe on 21 minutes put the Ballymena side in control.
They turned around to face the slight breeze 1-3 to 0-4 and gradually edged their way back to evens at 0-7 to 1-4 with two O’Donnell scores and a long range effort from Marley.
They looked capable of pushing on when O’Donnell put them ahead, but Molloy changed things and has set up a semi-final tie with Patrician High Carrickmacross.
St Louis: E Marquess; R McGarry, D Martin, M Laverty; C Lemon, C Kinsella, C Cunning; D McCormick, J McNaughton; S Duffin, R Kelly, E Campbell 0-1; JE Convery 0-2, 2f, E Fyfe 1-0, K Molloy 0-3, 2f.
Subs: E Daly for Campbell (40), Colm Griffin for Kelly (50).
St Eunan’s : M Gallagher; C Callaghan, M McAteer, S Halvey; M McGroary, A Deeney, H O’Donnell; C Marley 0-2, K Kealy; N O’Donnell 0-5, 2f, J McSharry, C Kelly; O McFadden 0-1, P O’Brien, R Friel.
Subs: R McLaughlin for Kealy (42), S Doherty for Marley (50).
Referee: Joe Mulholland (Derry)
Photograph from Paddy McIlwaine – Ballymena Chronicle
