Niall Toner stars in Newry derby in Brock semi

Danske Bank Brock Cup semi-final : Abbey CBS 1-17 St Colman’s Newry 1-15 AET
A BURREN player and a Crossmaglen player stood out for their respective teams in an excellent derby semi-final in the Danske Bank Brock Cup in Pairc Esler yesterday.
Burren’s Niall Toner held his nerve to send over a late free to bring the teams level at 1-10 each after 60 minutes’ play. He then opened extra-time with three more points on his way to accumulating a 0-13 total, mostly from frees.
That total and the result of the game eclipsed an excellent 0-8 from Crossmaglen’s Ronan Fitzpatrick in the colours of St Colman’s and there is little doubt that we will hear a lot more about this pair in the years ahead.
Others to leave a strong imprint on the game were Paddy McCarthy in defence and Odhrán Murdock at midfield for Abbey and Redmond French and Peter McGrane for the “College”.
The game was very tight in the opening half and it looked as if Abbey would turn over with a single point advantage at the break. However David Mallie’s late strike gave them a four point cushion that they really needed as St Colman’s drove at them for the second half.
Clonduff’s Pádraig Clancy grabbed a goal and with Fitzpatrick accurate from the dead ball and Dan McCarthy also popping up for a score or two the game seemed to be swinging St Colman’s way until a late free from Toner kept the Abbey in for an extra 20 minutes.
His three scores at the start of extra time opened a gap and St Colman’s couldn’t close it.
Abbey CBS : David Mallie 1-0, Niall Toner Niall 0-13, Rory Kearney 0-2, John McGovern 0-2.
St Colman’s : Padraig Clancy 1-0, Ronan Fitzpatrick 0-8, Callum Rodgers 0-2, Dan McCarthy 0-2, Redmond French 0-2, James Kelly 0-1.