Craic On

Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup Semi Final

Colaisti Inis Eoghain             4.09

Patrician High                       2.13

 

All Donegal Final Is Still A Possibility

Darach O’Connor was man of the match as he as he helped Colaisti Inis Eoghain into their first ever Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup Final on Sunday afternoon in Garvaghey. 

The Scoil Mhuire student O’Connor hit a personal tally of 3-04 as the Inishowen boys saw off Patrician High from Carrickmacross in an absorbing game.

They now await the winners of Wednesday night’s second semi-final between St Malachy’s of Belfast and Letterkenny rivals St Eunans.

Strong Wind

The teams were level at 1-05 apiece at the break, with O’Connor’s first goal keeping the teenagers in touch despite playing against a strong wind. 

The Monaghan boys had the lion’s share of the play in the opening half and led by 1-5 to 0-3 after 23 minutes, the goal coming from Ronan McDonald. 

However a goal and two points from the lively O’Connor just before the break, left it all square for the first time in the game..

Goals

However within a minute of the restart the damage was done, when first full forward Kevin McLaughlin scored a goal for the Inish boys.  

From the resultant kick out O’Connor pounced and ran through for his second goa to open up a six point lead which Inis Eoghain never looked like losing. 

Just five minutes later O’Connor completed his hat-trick when smashed a great shot in off the left post which left Carrick trailing by 4-05 to 0-06.

Comeback

To their credit, Patrician came back with 5 points in a row, with Monaghan minor star Donal Meegan contributing three of them.  

But O’Connor responded with another point, before Aaron Jones fired in a 48th minute goal to put his side right back in contention but realistically they needed a third goal which Sean Noonan’s boys did not look like conceding.

They could not close the gap as Inis Eoghain dropped back in numbers to steady the ship and in the end were worthy winners, much to the delight of everyone who had made the long journey to the Tyrone Centre of Excellence. 

Letterkenny

There could well be a mouth-watering all-Donegal final with St Eunan’s Letterkenny facing St Malachy’s Belfast also at Garvaghey on Wednesday evening (7.30pm).

Obviously O’Connor’s tally of 3.04 had a big influence on the game but Inis Eoghain had many fine performances on the day, with John Campbell contributing four points, while Kevin McLauglin was always a handful for the Carrick defence.  

Elsewhere Sean McHugh, Tony McClenegham, Stephen O Donnell, Gary Doherty, Jack O Loughlin and Danny Monagle throughout the hour.

Patrician were best served by Donal Meegan who score six fine points, four of them from play, Daire Rowe and Aaron Jones.

Coláistí Inis Eoghain: Jordan McLaughlin; Danny Monagle, Jack O’Loughlin, Stephen O’Donnell; Gary Doherty, Tony McClenaghan, Sam Doherty; Caolan McGonagle, Fergal Doherty; Mark Coyle, Darach O’Connor (3-04, 0-4f), Sean McHugh (0-01); John Campbell (0-04, 2f), Kevin McLaughlin (1-00), Shane McLaughlin. Subs: James Jackson for Mark Coyle (half time); Ultan Doherty for Shane McLaughlin (52 mins).

Referee Sean Hurson (Tyrone)