St Mary’s Magherafelt edge home in Casement thriller

Danske Bank Casement Cup semi-final

St Mary’s Magherafelt 2-8 Rathmore Grammar 2-7

St Mary’s Magherafelt recovered from a bad early goal in this Danske Bank Casement Cup semi-final to edge out Rathmore Grammar in a thrilling finish at Dunsilly.

Oran Delaney’s long range effort somehow crept over the Magherafelt line early in the opening half to put Rathmore 1-2 to 0-1 ahead.

However the Convent hit back with an unanswered 1-5 before the break with James Crawford, their best forward on the day, scoring 1-4.

That left St Mary’s in a 1-6 to 1-2 interval lead and a free from Crawford on the restart and then a goal from sub Ronan Kalla left the match on double scores, 2-8 to 1-4, with 20 minutes remaining.

Strangely that was St Mary’s final score as they were pushed further back into their own half. Oisin Donnelly pointed two frees and Anthony Gallagher added a point from play as Rathmore closed in.

Colm Darby was then pushed up from full-back and he caused enough mayhem for Odhran McElhatten to force home a late goal, but the Convent held out to claim a place in next week’s final against St Patrick’s Keady

St Mary’s: James Crawford 1-6, Morgan Nelson 1-0, Ciaran O’Neill 0-1, Ronan Kalla 0-1

Rathmore : Oran Delaney 1-1, Odhran McElhatten 1-0, Oisin Donnelly 0-5, Anthony Gallagher 0-1