Danske MacRory Cup quarter-final
St Patrick’s, Maghera 1-6 St Mary’s, Magherafelt 0-8
A LATE goal from Turlough McHugh pulled Maghera from the jaws of defeat to edge Derry rivals St Mary’s,Magherafelt at Owenbeg on Wednesday evening.
McHugh’s three-pointer levelled what was a low-scoring game and team-mate Cormac Óg McCloskey then held his nerve to kick the winning score with a stoppage-time free.
Maghera then played keep-ball and almost added a second goal but for a brilliant Micheál Conlan save to deny McHugh before the rebound was pulled wide with the last action.
Their late, late show – built on a strong defensive game - reversed last year’s defeat to the hands of Magherafelt to set up a semi-final with St Patrick’s, Armagh.
Played in front of a bumper attendance, it was a game of patience with Eamon Young, Rory Small and Gabhan McIvor on a mountain of possession.
With five second-half points on the bounce to go four points clear, Magherafelt began to get a grip on the midfield.
Maghera’s possession wasn’t translated into scores. They were undone by balls dropped short and half goal-chances closed out in scrambles in the Magherafelt penalty area.
In the end, it took McHugh’s goal for a dramatic smash-and-grab after Owenbeg defeats to Holy Trinity and St Mary’s in recent seasons.
In a tense encounter, there was a core of Derry’s recent All-Ireland minor winners on show and local bragging rights at stake.
Maghera set up deep and attacked on the break with Magherafelt mirroring their approach.
The early stages saw a series of failed attacks. It took eight minutes to produce the first score with Rian Collins fisting over after Odhran Doherty and Finbarr McShane combined, the latter given the job of picking up Eamon Young.
Maghera, playing with the wind, doubled their lead when a tug on Doherty saw McCloskey dissect the posts.
Twice Ronan Doherty intercepted Maghera attacks and it took two Young points to level matters, 0-2 each, after 15 minutes.
The patient football continued with the pick of the scores coming from Dara Doherty’s crossfield pass making a point for Padraig Haran.
Magherafelt never led but had a half-chance stopped by strong Magera defending.
St Mary’s levelled the game with a Cohen Cassidy score off the post only for Maghera skipper Cahal McKaigue to do likewise for a 0-4 to 0-3 interval lead.
Magherafelt had the ball in the net early in the second half but Feargal Logan’s effort was ruled out for square ball.
Young’s point on the run levelled the game before St Mary’s took control. He added another before Luke Grant kicked St Mary’s four up, 0-8 to 0-4.
Dara Doherty and Ronan Birt (from a mark) exchanged points before McHugh bagged the goal to turn the game on its head.
When Dara Doherty was fouled late on, McCloskey held his nerve to send Maghera into the last four.
St Patrick’s J McCloy; R Collins (0-1), P O’Kane, N McNicholl;
D Doherty (0-1), F McShane, D O’Neill; P Haran (0-1), G McIvor;
C McKaigue (0-1), T McHugh (1-0); O Doherty, M McGurk; D O’Kane, C McCloskey (0-2f)
Subs C McCloskey for O’Kane (INJ 44), KB Mullan for McNicholl (53)
St Mary’s M Conlan; D McKenna, R Doherty, L McLernon; R Small, L Grant (0-1), D McGuckin; J Sargent, C McBride; L Higgins, E Young (0-5, 2f), C Cassidy (0-1); J Beattie; P Birt, F Logan
Subs R Birt (0-1m) for P Birt (53), M Higgins for McGuckin (55)
Referee M Loughran (Tyrone)
