Cool kid Croskery’s super goal seals cup win for St Malachy’s

21 December 2016

ASSASSIN Shea Croskery struck with unerring accuracy late in the game to seal a sensational victory for St Malachy’s High School in the Danske Bank Rafferty Cup final at Queen’s playing fields last Tuesday night.

St Malachy’s were always in command, but just couldn’t kill St Patrick’s off until Croskery dribbled in and crashed the ball home from close range.

Luke Savage turned in a man of the match performance for St Malachy’s, ably supported by Liatroim pair Eoghan O’Hare and Conor McAnulty in defence.

Their midfield in general controlled the area, although Conor Toner also had his moments.

However, up front Castlewellan had plenty of options with some excellent scores from Brendan McKey and also from Matthew Carvill and Justin Clarke after the pair switched positions.

While Armagh chased the game from the start, they were still in with a shout going into the last few minutes due to the contributions of Conor Gormley, Niall Boyle, Dillon Horsfield, Arran McGahan and substitute James Birt.

St Malachy’s opened strongly with points from McKey, Clarke (2) and defender Luke Savage to move four ahead before Tom Weir got Armagh off the mark in the 12th minute.

Castlewellan pulled away though and after 26 minutes led by 0-7 to 0-2, only to be hit with a goal from Michael McGleenan and point from Ruairi McDonald right on the break.

Those scores however seemed to galvanise St Malachy’s for the second half and they opened with three quick points, a free from Sheelan Johnston and super long-range scores from Brendan McKey and Matthew Carvill.

Although McDonald and impressive substitute James Birt hit back for St Patrick’s, Castlewellan fired another three points in quick succession to move into a 0-13 to 1-5 lead with ten minutes remaining.

They were then hit by a point from Birt, followed quickly by a goal from Arron McGahan and suddenly the game was back in the melting pot.

St Malachy’s responded brilliantly with two fine points from Matthew Carvill followed by Croskery’s goal and the Rafferty Cup was heading to the Town for the first time.

St Malachy’s: J McKee, S Kearney, R McMullan, E O’Hare, L Savage (0-1), C McAnulty (capt), T Fettes, R McEvoy (0-1), R O’Higgins (0-1), B McKey (0-4), M Carvill (0-5), S Croskery (1-0), S Johnston (0-1 free), J Clarke (0-3), G Fitzpatrick. Subs: J McVeigh for T Fettis (38).

St Patrick’s: C McAlinden, C Gormley, O Atherton (capt), T Woods, O Richards, N Boyle, C McParland (0-1), O McKeagney, C Toner, R McDonald (0-2), D Horsfield, T Weir (0-1), L Coulter, M McGleenan (1-0), A McGahan (1-0). Subs: J Birt (0-2) for L Coulter, A Donaghy for C McParland, C Houlihan for N Boyle, O Hughes for R McDonald.

St Malachy’s Castlewellan 1-16

St Patrick’s Armagh 2-7

DANSKE BANK RAFFERTY CUP FINAL

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder