Super sub Kearney wins MacRory repeat for St Ronan’s

Danske Bank MacRory Cup
St Ronan’s Lurgan 2-9 St Mary’s Magherafelt 0-10
GOALS from substitute Ethan Kearney in the 53rd and 55th minutes settled the destination of the points from this group game in Donaghmore which was a repeat of last March’s final.
The first goal saw the Lurgan sub palm James McCormick’s cross to the net at the end of a smart move started in their own half and two minutes late the ball broke kindly for him to smash home from close range and put St Ronan’s through to a play-off at the end of January.
But it could so easily have been St Mary’s Magherafelt who took that path at the end of a game that was played in patches by both teams.
St Ronan’s had a good start and went four points up inside the opening 20 minutes, the pick of them the final one from Diarmuid Loney.
From then until the break it was all Magherafelt. Ciaran O’Neill smashed a 22nd minute penalty off the under-side of the crossbar, but to safety before the Convent hit five points in succession to lead 0-5 to 0-4 at the break.
There were two each for Dominic McAteer and Ben McErlean and the pair added a point apiece on the re-start to give St Mary’s a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.
Now it was St Ronan’s turn and Diarmuid Loney, Jack Conlon and James McCormick hit three points in three minutes to tie the teams. Padraig Mitchell and Ryan Lennox replied for St Mary’s before super sub Kearney grabbed the limelight and put the game safe.
St Mary’s have finished 3rd in the group and will face Abbey CBS in next week’s play-off no matter how the Newry derby finishes this (FRIDAY) afternoon.
St Ronan’s : Ethan Kearney 2-0, James McCormick 0-2, 0-1 free, Jack Conlon 0-2, Diarmuid Loney 0-2, Cian France 0-1 free, Adam Loughran 0-1, Mark McAfee 0-1.
St Mary’s : Dominic McAteer 0-4, 0-2 frees, Ben McErlean 0-3, Eunan McElhennon 0-1, Padraig Mitchell 0-1, Ryan Lennox 0-1.