Danske Bank Sciath Loch an Iúir final
St Joseph’s, Donaghmore 2-12 St Malachy’s, Castlewellan 1-5
A GOAL from midfielder Cormac Doran immediately after the throw-in to start the second half was the turning point in this game in the Sally Gardens in Dunmurry yesterday.
The first half had been very tense and closely fought, but the Donaghmore goal at the start of the second half opened the play out and St Joseph’s pulled away to deny St Malachy’s, the first-time finalists.
Cookstown joint-manager Jason Quinn doesn’t underestimate the challenge of Four Masters in the Ulster semi-final
“It was tough on my mum and dad. I knew I was self-destructing. And I also knew the next phase of that, if I had carried on, it was not being here. I was in a very dark place...” - the life and times of Caolan Mooney
Defences were on top during the first half and the sides finished level, 1-1 to 0-4, at the break.
Lochlann Steele’s goal gave St Malachy’s a good start but Donaghmore edged their way back into it with points from Neil McElroy, Cormac Doran, Matthew Mallon and Daire O’Neill.
St Joseph’s dominated after the goal and there were four points each from O’Neill and Jack McCann, with Kevin Doyle, Luke Rice, Eoin Polly and Thomas Kane doing their best to keep the Down side in the game.
However, close to the end, sub Conan Quinn scored an excellent individual goal to seal a victory that owed a lot to the performances of Kieran Carlisle and Eoin Winters in defence, well supported by team captain Padraic Donaghy.
St Joseph’s C Doran 1-1; C Quinn 1-0; D O’Neill 0-5; J McCann 0-4; E Jordan & S Toner 0-1 each
St Malachy’s L Steele 1-0; P Bannon 0-2; C Fitzsimons, S Laverty
& L Rice 0-1 each
