THE MacLarnon Cup holders secured their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with an impressive victory over Cardonagh at Faughanvale last Wednesday afternoon.
However, St Patrick’s, Downpatrick, had to do it the hard way after losing influential half forward Dermot Donaldson midway through the first half.
The Red High juggernaut was in full flow by this stage and had taken a 0-8 to 0-0 lead when Donaldson saw red.
That moved to 0-10 to 0-3 by the break with Eoin Rooney and Lorcan Guinness lording Carndonagh in defence.
Tom Smyth, in midfield and Odhran Sherry, in a free role around the middle, picked up a lot of possession and distributed it well with Chris McElroy, Tom Savage, Smyth and Ronan Connor (from frees) registering a string of points to put them in command of the tie.
Carndonagh struggled to make an impression on the game and relied totally on frees from Luke Doherty and Tiernan McDonald to keep in touch.
They were edging a little closer midway through the second half when the key moment arrived with Christopher McDaid put through one-on-one with Peter Kearney. But the big Downpatrick net-minder was up to the task and saved.
That would have levelled the tie and the momentum gained might have swung it Carndonagh’s way. Instead Downpatrick got their second wind and the game was put to bed five minutes from time when Tom Smyth race through to find the net.
It turned out to be a great day for Downpatrick with De La Salle High School, who share a site with St Patrick’s, edging an extra time thriller with Coláiste Oiriall in the Danske Bank Ward Cup.
De La Salle led by 1-15 to 2-8 towards the end of normal time, but conceded four points in a row and the game went into extra time.
Cathal Laverty’s goal gave De La Salle a single point advantage at half-time and a strike from Con Farrell put them two points up at the death with Oiriall awarded a 13 metres free in added time.
The shot was beaten out and over the bar for Downpatrick to make it through to the next round on a 3-17 to 2-19 scoreline
St Patrick’s: Peter Kearney, Eoin Rooney, Lorcan Guiness, Caolan Murray, Odhran Barlow, Aodan Harney, Tom Smyth (1-2), Oran Cunningham, Conor Murray, Tom Savage (0-2), Ronan Connor (0-4), Dermot Donaldson, Chris McElroy (0-2), Tom McNeill 0-1, Odhran Sherry. Subs Oran Gormley for Tom McNeill, Conn Murnin for Chris McElroy
Carndonagh: Oran Raymond, Darrach O’Connor, Ronan Kelly, Rory Lynch, Peter McCallion, Adam McGonigle, David McGonigle, Oisin Devlin, Gavin McDaid, Christy McDaid, Luke Doherty (0-3), Tiernan McDonald (0-4), Conor O’Neill, Brian Houghton, Matthew Brennan (0-1).
St Patrick’s, Downpatrick 1-11
Cardonagh CS 0-8
DANSKE BANK MacLARNON CUP