An Dún survive late goal rush to claim Mageean semi spot
Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter-final
An Dún 2-19 St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-10
When firstly Kieran Mulvenna from a cross by Ed McQuillan and then McQuillan himself landed goals for St Killian’s in the 55th and 56th minutes of a really tough Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter-final at the Dub last night, it looked as if the north Antrim school might push on to an unlikely victory.
Those goals tied the teams for the first time on 3-9 to 1-15, but, as they had been doing right throughout the game when St Killian’s closed in, An Dún opened up play to pick off the winning scores.
Ronan Blair landed two soft frees with Morgan shooting his seventh point in reply before Ryan Coulter picked up a fine cross-field pass to cut inside and finish to the net. Blair and Ronan Costelloe finished them off with injury-time points and a gap of two goals, which probably reflected the difference between the teams.
The Tower got off to a terrible start, conceding 1-3 in the opening 10 minutes with Ryan Coulter adding 1-1 to two early points from Conor McCrickard.
An Dún were much crisper in their passing and all those four scoring opportunities were well-crafted, while St Killian’s snatched at half-chances that came their way.
James Morgan eventually got them off the mark with a free in the 15th minute and they played well between that and the break, landing a further five points to three from An Dún, the last of these a free from Cathal Coulter in injury time.
Conleth O’Loan scrambled a goal on the re-start to leave a point between the sides, but St Killian’s didn’t score over the next seven scoreless minutes and An Dún took off again with points in quick succession from Ryan Coulter, Cathal Coulter and Ronan Blair.
Each time the Tower narrowed that gap, there was always a response from An Dún. When the goals came, they refused to panic and they will be a serious threat to Cross and Passion Ballycastle’s aspirations when they meet in Wednesday’s semi-final.
The first semi-final is set for the Loup on Monday, 4pm when St Patrick’s Maghera take on St Louis Ballymena.
An Dún : O Davies, J Hughes, E Kelly, M McAreavey, L McCarthy, Cathal Coulter 0-4 frees, B Campbell, P Savage 0-1, J Hanrahan, R Blair 0-5, 0-2 frees, C McCrickard 0-3, 0-1 free, Caolan Coulter, R Coulter 2-1, R Costelloe 0-3, T Prenter 0-2.
Subs : N McParland for J Hanrahan (24), C Watson for C McCrickard (HT)
St Killian’s : P McMullan, T Scally, A McMullan, E Hynds, R McAteer, C O’Connor, J McAlister, C O’Loan 1-0, A McKenna, J Morgan 0-7, 0-6 frees, K Mulvenna 1-0, S McKay 0-1, F McCurry, R McCambridge, E McQuillan 1-2.
Subs : A Ritson for A McKenna (22), N Allen for S McKay (43).
Referee : A Murray
Picture from JOHN Curly McILWAINE? @Cattach2
