Red High back in business

Red High back in business

22 January 2020

ST Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, booked their place in the MacLarnon Cup play-offs against Carndonagh Community School and are now just one win away from the quarter-finals.

The holders didn’t start that well as St Louis’ grabbed the first two points through Aidan Scullion at the Dub last Wednesday, but as the first half progressed it became clear that St Patrick’s were the more accomplished team.

Although St Louis’ still led at the break by 0-4 to 0-2, the writing was on the wall for the mid-Antrim boys with the pace of the Downpatrick wing-forwards and wing-backs, plus the presence of Aodhan Harney, Tom Smyth and Ruairí Connor down the centre was always a problem for them.

St Louis’ looked good in the opening few minutes with Scullion lively and Ruairí Hagan and Ryan McQuillan pushing forward, but that penetration was arrested before the end of the first quarter and the scores dried up.

Their hopes of remaining in the tie against the strong breeze in the second half rested on a penalty in first half injury-time when Ronan McKillop fed Ryan McQuillan and the Glenravel man was taken down.

But Scullion pulled his shot wide from the spot kick and that two points lead did not look good enough.

Tom Smyth, Tom Savage, Chris McIlroy and Dermot Donaldson all pointed in the opening six minutes of the second half and the result was not in doubt from then on.

Some of these were well taken scores, but the cream of the crop was a seven-player move down the left wing which finished with Conor Murray slinging over the second of his four second half scores in the 42nd minute.

Six minutes later the Red High slammed the door shut on Ballymena. Ryan McQuillan’s attempt at a point from a free ped short into Peter Kearney’s arms. Kearney fed Odhrán Barlow who carried it 30 metres before firing the ball long over the St Louis’ defence into the arms of Ruairí Connor who took the ‘keeper on and left-footed to the net.

Ballymena hit back with points from McQuillan frees and a fine effort from Daniel McNicholl, but Murray (2), Smyth and, at the death, a free from Connor rubber-stamped the holders’ ticket to a second round tie with Carndonagh Community School.

St Louis’: Rory McCloseky, Conall Killough, Daragh Donaghy, Sean Higgins, Shaun O’Callaghan, Oisin Connolly, Ryan McCartney, Ruairí Hagan, Daniel McNicholl (0-1), Ryan  McQuillan (0-3 frees), Ronan McKillop, Patrick Dougan, Aidan Scullion (0-2, 0-1 free), Callum Higgins (0-1), Patrick Ferris. Sub: Conor Crossey for S Higgins.

St Patrick’s: Peter Kearney, Oran Gormley, Lorcan Guinness, Caolan Murray, Odhran Barlow (0-1), Aodan Harney, Tom Savage (0-3, 0-1f), Oran Cunningham, Conor Murray (0-4, 0-1 f), Tom Savage (0-1), Ronan Connor (1-0, 0-1 free), Dermot Donaldson, Chris McIlroy (0-1), Tom McNeill, Odhran Sherry. Subs: Jack Fitzsimons for Donaldson.

Referee: Paul Hughes (Antrim).

St Patrick’s, Downpatrick 1-11

St Louis’, Ballymena 0-7

MacLARNON CUP ELIMINATOR