McGrady shines in Red High win

McGrady shines in Red High win

13 February 2013

EIGHT points from the boot of Conor McGrady helped the Red High progress through to the last four of the MacLarnon Cup in what transpired to be a dominant performance from the Downpatrick school.

The RGU club man was in top form throughout hitting two from open play and six from frees. Ryan Murdock and Aaron McClements were the only other St. Patrick’s players to get on the scoresheet, such was McGrady’s stranglehold on the game.

The Red High were on top in every department and should have beaten their Monaghan counterparts by a lot more than three points. A total of 14 wides came their way as the Down outfit’s shot selection let them down on most of these occasions.

Castleblayney struggled to match St. Patrick’s in the physical stakes and such was the frugality of the Red High defence, Our Lady’s only managed three points from play over the hour.

The first half was a scrappy affair at times with a lot of passes going astray. The Red High were quickest to acclimatise themselves to the muddy pitch as Conor McGrady pointed twice in the first four minutes.

His first was a well taken free while his second was a tidy score from play. Castleblayney hit back on five minutes, but McGrady was hand again to convert a free to leave St. Patrick’s 0-3 to 0-1 up after 10 minutes.

On the quarter hour mark Castleblayney’s centre half forward brought the minimum between the sides, but Ryan Murdock then got the score of the game two minutes later.

The all-action wing half back raced forward and after an exchange of passes he expertly drove his ball over the bar.

With seven minutes of the half remaining the Red High went three points clear when the rangy Aaron McClements pointed, despite being under a lot of pressure from the Castleblayney defence.

Both teams fought hard as half-time approached, but St. Patrick’s missed a few clear cut chances which would have given them a considerably better interval lead.

It was the Monaghan side who made the most of their limited opportunities and with four minutes to go to the break McGinn sent over a free to leave Our Lady’s trailing 0-5 to 0-3 at the halfway point.

There was always a sense that the Red High could up the ante if needed and this is exactly what transpired at the start of the second half. Three points in the first six minutes, all from the trusted foot of Conor McGrady, extended his team’s lead to five.

Our Lady’s were left shell-shocked, but they quickly regrouped and another free from McGinn on 37 minutes settled their nerves. However, St Patrick’s soon re-established their five point cushion. McGrady popped up with his sixth flag raiser as he yet again popped over another free.

The winners continued to miss chances and this let Castleblayney in to reduce the deficit by four on 43 minutes. As the game entered the last quarter McGrady delivered another blow as he swung over a straight forward free.

Unbelievably, there would only be another two scores in the whole of the last 15 minutes. Despite the Red High’s domination of possession, especially at midfield, they just couldn’t get scores on the board which would have left them out of sight as the game petered out.

Our Lady’s had themselves the remaining two minor efforts to leave three in it but they never really threatened to sneak the win.

Next up for the Downpatrick lads is a mouth-watering semi-final with St. Louis, Kilkeel. This Down derby is sure to produce fireworks. The Red High will have to up their overall performance if they are to make their first decider since 2006.

St. Patrick’s, Downpatrick: R. Bryce (RGU), C. Mahoney (Saul), Sean Cochrane (Loughinisland), Daniel McCarron (RGU), Ryan Murdock (Drumaness) (0-1), A. Doherty (RGU), P. Cochrane (Loughinisland), R. Wells (Bryansford), P. Martin (Loughinisland), D. McComiskey (Dundrum), D. Corrigan (Loughinisland), A. McClements (Loughinisland) (0-1), S. Murray (Darragh Cross), C. McGrady (RGU) (0-8, 6F), C. Harney (Saul). Subs: A. Fegan (Dundrum) for Mahoney, J. Bell (RGU) for Cochrane, O. McAvoy (RGU) for McClements, S. Burns (Saul) for Harney.

Our Lady’s, Castleblayney: S. Atkinson, T. Forde, B. Kerr, D. McKenna, S. Mulligan, M. Geehan, D. Ward, M. Magee, K. McVicar, C. Marray, A. Kelly (0-1), D. McMahon, B. McGinn (0-4, 3F), D. McElroy (0-2 ), R. McNamara. Subs: M. Kelly for D. McKenna, E. McKearney for Mulligan, M. Brannigan for McNamara, J. Beattie for Marray, Aidan McElroy for Forde.

St. Patrick’s, Downpatrick 0-10

Our Lady’s, Castleblayney 0-7

MACLARNON CUP QUARTER-FINAL