Red High reach Gallagher semi AET

May 17, 2018

Danske Bank Gallagher Cup quarter-final
St Patrick’s Downpatrick 7-14 Cross and Passion Ballycastle 5-13 (AET)
FOR the second time this week, St Patrick’s Downpatrick eliminated a north Antrim school from the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup to reach next week’s semi-finals.
On Tuesday they beat St Louis Ballymena by 4-13 to 2-12 in a play-off and they got yesterday’s quarter-final off to a great start with a first minute goal from Tom McGrattan, son of former All-star Gerard.
That goal was the difference between the teams at the break, 1-8 to 0-8, with Cross and Passion hurling themselves back into contention with some fine points from Oisin Elliott and Tadhg Donnelly.
However at the start of the second half, Downpatrick pulled away and with 12 minutes to go led by 11 points following another goal from McGrattan and more three-pointers from Oisin Coulter, Tiernan Connolly and Fearghal Casey.
Amazingly Cross and Passion responded with late goals from Ruairí McCormick, Christy McAuley, Tadhg Donnelly and John Joe Burns to force extra time on a 5-10 to 4-13 score-line after Oisin Elliott pointed in injury time.
The Antrim boys hit the opening score of extra time, a goal from Daragh Watterson, but that was to prove their only score in that period and two second half goals from Finn Turpin sealed a memorable win for the Down side, who now play holders St Mary’s Belfast in the semi-final.
The other semi-final is a repeat of last season’s Danske Bank MacNamee Cup final between St Patrick’s Maghera and St Killian’s Garron Tower.
St Patrick’s Downpatrick : Tom McGrattan 2-4, Finn Turpin 2-0, Tiernan Connolly 1-2, Oisin Coulter 1-1, Fearghal Casey 1-0, Ryan O’Neill 0-4, Michael Dorrian 0-2, Adam Rogan 0-1
Cross and Passion : Tadhg Donnelly 1-2, Ruairí McCormick 1-1, Christy McAuley 1-1, John Joe Burns 1-0, Daragh Watterson 1-0, Oisin Elliott 0-7, Eoin Boylan 0-2.