Loreto qualify for Irish News Cup final

Danske Bank Irish News Cup semi-final
Loreto Coleraine 5-11 St Ciaran’s Ballygawley 1-6
LORETO Coleraine were more clinical in front of goals and those were the qualities that took them through yesterday’s Danske Bank Irish News Cup in Bellaghy against a St Ciaran’s Ballygawley side who gave a good account of themselves.
The difference between the sides was evident during the course of the second half when both had two ten minute periods of dominance; Ballygawley hit eight wides in a row, while Coleraine pulled away with two goals and a point during their purple patch.
It was a similar story during the first half with Loreto finding the net on three occasions despite Sean O’Connell getting the Tyrone side off to a great start with a goal. Niall Clyde and Leon Boyd immediately hit back with goals and after another flurry from Ballygawley Clyde bagged the third goal and the teams turned round at 3-5 to 1-4.
Callum Doherty opened the scoring for Coleraine but Ballygawley took over play for a lengthy spell and only managed a point from Dara McGinley.
Loreto regained the initiative with a point from Eddie Kilmartin followed by two from their most impressive player Joe Dillon. Sub Niall McLaughlin then fired home a goal and Dillon quickly added a second to give the score-line a more one-sided look than the efforts of Sean O’Connell, Theo Gartland, Harry McGinn and Dara McGinley deserved.
The pairing in the second semi-final is Rathmore Grammar v St Conor’s Clady/Kilrea but there are no plans to play that game until after the Easter break.
Loreto : Niall Clyde 2-0, Joe Dillon 1-6, Leon Boyd 1-0, Niall McLaughlin 1-0, JF Burns 0-1, Matthew Johnston 0-1, Callum Doherty 0-1, Eddie Kilmartin 0-1, Matthew Smyth 0-1.
St Ciaran’s : Sean O’Connell 1-4, Callum Quinn 0-1, Dara McGinley 0-1, Pascal Gormley 0-1.