Tower storms into Foresters’ Cup final

Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final
St Killian’s Garron Tower 4-18 St Mary’s CBGS Belfast 2-8
St Killian’s Garron Tower powered past St Mary’s CBGS in the opening half of yesterday’s semi-final in Allen Park, Antrim to claim a place in next week’s Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup final.
Given the form of the teams coming into the game, this looked hard to call, but St Killian’s, playing against the breeze laid down a marker with the opening three points from Fionntan McQuillan and then a goal from Oliver Kearney, all inside the first five minutes.
Eventually in the 6th minute Dannan McGeogh pointed for the Belfast side, but Kearney bagged a second goal for the Tower in the 8th minute and already they were ahead by 2-5 to 0-1.
St Mary’s rallied with a goal from Davy McGowan to cut the deficit only for Ronan McAteer to hit back with goals in the 14th and 16th minutes and St Killian’s turned around at the break with a 4-8 to 2-4 lead, McGowan striking a second goal for St Mary’s in the 20th minute.
With the breeze behind them in the second half, the Tower boys picked off some good long range scores, while St Mary’s shunned openings for points in favour of shots on goal.
Ciaran Black turned in a Player of the Match display from midfield with the half-backline snuffing out any real threat the Glen Road boys posed and the Tower attack all very sharp, in particular full-forward Oliver Kearney.
After that whirlwind start, St Mary’s were always on the back foot, but Dannan McGeogh worked hard throughout and Davy McGeown carried a goal threat.
The second semi-final takes place today (FRIDAY) 2pm in Cloughmills where Cross and Passion won last year’s final.
They have a few left over from that success including Seamus McAuley and Cathal Hargan, backed up by Enda óg McGarry and Michael O’Boyle from their recent Leonard Cup winning side.
Their opponents St Patrick’s Maghera struggled to beat St Louis Ballymena in the quarter-final midweek. Players such as Paddy Quinn, Fintan McGrath, Cahair Higgins and PJ McAleese will certainly put it up to Ballycastle, but the holders should advance to a derby final – if the form-book keeps to script.
St Killian’s : James McAllister, Donal Kearney, Liam McLoughlin, Mark Emerson, Pearse McKeegan 0-1, John McAllister 0-1, Aidan Scullion, Aidan Ritson, Ciaran Black 0-2, Ronan McAteer 2-0, Ciaran Magill 0-3, Cathal Hynds, Pádraig McKillop 0-1, Oliver Kearney 2-3, Fionntan McQuillan 0-7.
Subs : Shea McDonnell for D Kearney (ht), Sean O’Boyle for P McKillop (45), Euan McSparran for R McAteer (45), Callum Kilgore for A Ritson (50).
St Mary’s : Jay Burns, Owen May, Liam McCluskey, Tiernan McKenna, Ruairi Murray, Dan Murray, Eoin Trainor, Ronan Crossen 0-2, Danan McGeough 0-5, 0-4 frees, Daragh Dellany, Caolan O’Duffin, Paul Smith, Daragh Murphy, Caolan McKernan, Davy McGowan 2-1