Virginia make it in extra time

Virginia College Cavan 5-7 Dean Maguirc Carrickmore 1-16 (aet)
From Kevin Kelly in Newry

Virginia’s ability to strike for goals ultimately decided this Danske Bank Markey Cup semi-final as they overcame a gallant Dean Maguirc Carrickmore side at windswept St Colman’s College Newry.
It was a contest that required extra time to decide with the Cavan lads advancing to a final date with St Ciaran’s Ballygawley.
The Dean had a gale force wind at their backs in the first half but they took time to settle hitting seven wides in as many minutes at the start of the game including two goal chances.
A trio of scores from the outstanding Stephen Grogan and one from Michael McCallan had them four ahead before Virginia got their first goal in the 15th minute via Conor Nulty.
The Tyrone school regrouped though with Grogan taking his personal haul to 0-8 and McCallan and Sean Conneely also on target as they led 0-12 to 1-3 at the break.
Three minutes into the second half Nulty got his second goal and moments later it was all square as Aaron Mannion found the net as well.
A Sean McEvoy free then put the winners in front for the first time before Grogan levelled matters. The superb Aaron McCabe got his side’s fourth goal but two minutes later Grogan replied in kind at the other end of the field.
James Donaghy edged the Dean in front but in stoppage time Nulty equalised to bring the game to extra time, 4-5 to 1-14.
The Dean had the wind at their backs in the first period but they struggled to make it count with a point from a Grogan free all that they had to show for their efforts. At the end of the first half of extra time the crucial score arrived when McCabe blasted a brilliant goal to the top right-hand corner of the net.
That gave the winners a two points’ lead and in the second period they held their opponents at bay with substitutes Turlagh Farrelly and Gillian McCabe both pointing while Oisin McCann got Carrickmore’s only response.
Virginia scorers: C Nulty 2-2, A McCabe 2-2 (1F), A Mannion 1-0, S McEvoy 0-1 (1F), T Farrelly 0-1, C McCabe 0-1
Dean scorers: S Grogan 1-10 (3F), M McCallan 0-2, S Conneely 0-2, J Donaghy 0-1, O McCann 0-1 (1F)