Big first half from CPC in MacNamee

Danske Bank MacNamee Cup quarter-final
Cross and Passion Ballycastle 6-9 St Patrick’s Maghera 3-8
AN EXCELLENT opening half from Cross and Passion Ballycastle in Ballymena has set up a north Antrim derby semi-final with St Killian’s Garron Tower in the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup.
Despite playing against the light breeze, the north Antrim boys held an interval lead of 3-6 to 1-4 through goals from Tiago McGarry (2) and Gavin McToal, while Conor Coyle found the net for the Maghera three pointer.
Maghera stepped up a gear for the second half, but Cross and Passion were in control and far enough ahead to be content to keep the score-board ticking over with the end line in sight. They did however need some sharp saves from Mark Christie to keep Maghera at bay.
In defence Ben McGarry and Conor Mort hurled solidly while Darragh Kelly, operating as a third midfielder, and Conor Donnelly kept probing for scores.
For Maghera, Ryan McGarvey and Conor Downey had decent games in defence and Conor Coyles and the battling Fionn McEldowney up front, but they left themselves too much to do at the break.
Coyle got his second goal early in the second half, but so too did McToal at the other end and Ben O’Kane also had notched a goal before McEldowney got Maghera’s third goal.
The last of the quarter-finals takes place today (WEDNESDAY) with a 1.30pm throw-in at St Enda’s Glengormley between St Louis Ballymena and St Mary’s CBGS Belfast, with Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Knock waiting in the wings for a winner.
Cross and Passion : Tiago McGarry (2-3), Gavin McToal (2-1), Ben O’Kane (1-1), Conor Donnelly (1-2), Darragh Kelly (0-2)
St Patrick’s : Conor Coyle (2-2), Fionn McEldowney (1-0), Cathal McKeague (0-2), Ben McCullagh (0-2), Sean Boyd (0-1), Odhran McElhinney (0-1).