St Ciaran’s into Markey final

Danske Bank Markey Cup semi-final
From Kevin Kelly in Newry
St Ciaran’s Ballygawley held off a spirited fight back from St Louis Kilkeel to edge a cracking Danske Bank Markey Cup semi-final at St Colman’s College in Newry yesterday afternoon.
The Tyrone school looked to be in complete control when they held a nine points lead with 20 minutes to go but Kilkeel produced a stunning comeback that almost yielded them extra time.
Odhran Robinson and Jack Rodgers traded early points before a superb Michael Quinn pass put Ruairi Canavan in for a clinically taken 8th minute goal.
Finbar McElroy added a point and he then set up Cormac Quinn for a flicked goal. St Ciaran’s were on top but just the break Niall Sloan flicked in a Kilkeel goal to leave it 2-6 to 1-2 at the interval.
Robinson and Canavan added a point apiece on the re-start as St Ciaran’s kept a good grip on proceedings.
St Louis substitute Cormac McCombe converted three frees in a row before Tom O’Neill fired low to the net in the 52nd minute.
Only two points separated the sides but St Ciaran’s re-grouped with a Robinson free and a point from play from substitute Ciaran Bogue.
It looked as though they had weathered the storm but in the final minute of normal time Kilkeel full forward Ryan Mackey thumped the ball to the roof of the net. It led to a nervous finish for St Ciaran’s but they managed to hold on.
The second semi-final between Dean Maguirc Carrickmore and Virginia Cavan is scheduled for this Friday afternoon.
St.Ciarans scorers: R Canavan 1-3 (2F), O Robinson 0-5 (3F), C Quinn 1-0, F McElroy 0-1, Ciaran Bogue 0-1
St.Louis scorers: N Sloan 1-1, C McCombe 0-3 (3F), T O Neill 1-0, R Mackey 1-0, J Rodgers 0-1, S Donegan 0-1
Referee: K Fallon, Armagh