St Patrick’s Maghera face Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in Leonard Cup final

Leonard Cup Final
St Patrick’s Maghera v Gaelcholáiste Dhoire
Wednesday, Owenbeg, 3.30pm

THERE will be two teams in a grade A Ulster Schools’ hurling final next week with the clash of St Patrick’s Maghera and Dungiven based St Patrick’s Maghera

Maghera were narrow winners when the teams met in the group stages and it sets up an exciting final.

It is a boost for hurling in the county and there is the added intrigue of players goinn up against their club mates with an Ulster title on the line.

Here is the Maghera journey to the final…

Group stages
St Patrick’s Maghera 2-10 St Mary’s Belfast 0-10
MAGHERA began against Gallagher Cup winners from the previous season, St Mary’s Belfast, who offered a tough test.

Both teams went score for score in the opening half before a goal from Maghera forward Sean O’Hara was the difference between the sides at half-time.

They had Fionn Wallace to thank after making a few big saves at the other end. There was excellent free taking from Donnacha Collins.

Scores from Don Mulholland and Thomas Leadon kept Maghera in front but St Mary’s were still well in the game until a long ball into Ronan O’Loughlin resulted in a well taken goal to secure the win for Maghera.

St Patrick’s Maghera 4-5 St Killian’s Garron Tower 1-0
THE Tower started well with strong play from their midfield line and a long ball into the edge of the square resulted in an early goal lead for the Antrim men.

Maghera reacted well to the early setback with Dara McKenna and Sionan McCormack strong in midfield. Davin Hassan set up loads of chances for the St Patrick’s.

Garron Tower battled well throughout, but St Pats were clinical up front and were able to see the game out.

St Patrick’s Maghera 1-10 Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 2-4
GCD started the game strong with two early goals from powerful center half forward Aidan Kelly.

Maghera were now chasing the game with only 10 minutes a half to bring to try and comeback. Center forward Donnacha Collins kept Maghera in the game with some excellent scores, but Ghaelcholaiste forwards were causing problems at the other end. Second half was close throughout and GCD led right up until the last few minutes before excellent work from Aaron Mc Gonigle won the ball back to set up Sean O’ Hara for a late winning goal for St Pats.

Semi-final – St Patrick’s Maghera 4-16 St Mary’s Belfast 0-5
THIS was a rematch of the Gallagher Cup final won convincingly by St Mary’s.

Weather conditions were testing and both teams started slowly with not many scores in the opening quarter.

A goal from Don Mulholland after 15 minutes helped St Patrick’s assert a foothold on the game and were able to deny St Mary’s scores.

There was excellent defending from a full-back line of Cathal Duggan, Dara McKaigue and James Bradley.

Maghera added another goal on the cusp of half-time after Sean O’Hara turned the ball over from a defender to blast the ball to the net with a strong kick.

Oisin Burke tormented the St Mary’s defence throughout the first half with his work rate and score taking ability.

Joseph Conway also showed his skill with an excellent first touch and ability to find a pass.

St Mary’s added a couple of scores before the break but Maghera led 2-6 to 0-3.

St Patrick’s followed up on their first half form with Sean O’Hara adding another goal before substitute Aaron McGonigle made an immediate impact by finding the net with his first touch before nearly setting up another with his second.

The Derry side finished the game strongly with Ronan O’Loughlin adding a couple of excellently worked scores.

St Patrick’s Maghera: Fionn Wallace (Sleacht Néill), Dara McKaigue (Sleacht Néill), Cathal Duggan (Lavey), Karl Friel (Swatragh), Dan McEldowney (Sleacht Néill), Dara McKenna (Kevin Lynch’s), Cahir McDonnell (Greenlough), Donnacha Collins (Lavey), Sean O’Hara (Creggan), Davin Hassan (Swatragh), Don Mulholland (Lavey), Oisin Burke (Banagher), James Bradley (Sleacht Néill), Thomas Leadon (Swatragh), Johnny McKenna (Lavey), Sean McPeake (Lavey), Seamus Woulahan (Lavey), Aaron McGonigle (Kevin Lynch’s), Joey Griffin (Moneyglass), Charlie O’Kane (Kevin Lynch’s), Ben Haran (Kevin Lynch’s), Sean Farren (Kevin Lynch’s), Charlie Birt (Lavey), Pearse Lagan (Swatragh), Charley McGarvey (Lavey), Ben Bradley (Sleacht Néill), Joseph Conway (Swatragh), Conan Boyle (Lavey), Sionan McCormack (Moneyglass), Ronan O’Loughlin (Sleacht Néill), James Ward (Lavey), Bradan O’Donnell (Moneyglass), Liam O’Kane (Banagher), Tom McKaigue (Sleacht Néill), Conor Hampson (Swatragh), Lucas Shaw (Lavey)