Pat King Cup goes to Castleblayney

Danske Bank Pat King Cup final
Castleblayney College 2-13 St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Claudy 2-10
CASTLEBLAYNEY College have taken their first provincial football title after pulling clear during the last quarter of yesterday’s action-packed final in Fintona to prevent St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Claudy retaining the Danske Pat King Cup.
Claudy had a huge performance from full-forward Niall McGonagle who moved to midfield for periods of the game, yet still finished with a goal and nine points. Tiarnán O’Connor and Oran Carton were others to make their mark for the north Derry side.
While Matthew Marron top-scored with 1-6 for the winners, there was danger from several other players including Thomas McMahon while three defenders got up to register points and it was this wider range of scorers that essentially pulled the Monaghan school clear in the last quarter.
Claudy started the final with a 9th minute goal from Niall McGonagle following good work from Oisin Kearns-Madden and Tiaran O’Connor. Matthew Marron responded with two points, but it was Claudy who led by 1-3 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.
Over the next ten minutes the Monaghan side drew level with points from Niall Rice (2), Joseph McMahon and Marron and centre-back Liam Martin edged them ahead for the first time after 27 minutes.
However Claudy finished the half strongly with Niall McGonagle’s long through ball finding Tiarnan O’Connor who broke clear for a goal and the Derry school led by 2-4 to 0-7 at the turnover.
The momentum then swung to ‘Blayney once more as the second half swung into action. Rice and Marron got through for early points and then Dylan McKenna caught a kick-out at midfield to start a move that ended with Niall Rice blasting to the Claudy net.
But back came McGonagle with a free to tie the game once again in the 37th minute and he then added a point from play.
But the final quarter belonged to Castleblayney and they took control through a penalty from Matthew Marron while defenders Nathan and Zachary McArdle quickly added points.
There was a bit of pressure on the winners’ defence near the end with blocks on Niall McGonigle and Tiarnan O’Connor to prevent goals, but Castleblayney had done enough to claim the silverware.
Castleblayney : S McCully, Z McArdle (0-1), J McMahon, N McArdle (0-1), S McCooey, L Martin (0-1), C McEneaney, Tom McMahon, D McKenna, E Coleman, M Marron (1-6, 1-0 pen, 0-4 frees), D Shevlin, Thomas McMahon (1-4, 0-1 mark), N Rice, D Martin.
Subs : P McSkeane, J Fox, K Flanagan, J Watters, C Malone, M Comiskey
Claudy: R McCormick, C McKinney, O Carton, B Cooke, D Johnston, C Donaghy, K Hasson, A Murphy, T O’Connor (1-0), O Kearns-Madden (0-1), C Gormley, S Watson, J Kelly, N McGonagle (1-9, 0-6 frees), N Barr.
Subs: T Quirke for K Hasson (38).
Referee : M McCarron (Fintona)