Heartbreak for Holy Cross in Markey Cup final

HOLY CROSS 1-13   ST MALACHY’S 2-12

HOLY CROSS hopes of a first ever Ulster Schools Markey Cup title were dashed in cruel fashion at wind-swept Dunmoyle on Thursday afternoon when St Malachy’s of Castlewellan snook up on the rails to pip them at the post.

The determined Strabane boys led 1-13 to 2-9 as an enjoyable decider ticked towards the hour mark, and having produced some last ditch heroics in defence it seemed that the fates were set to smile on them.

However the dogged Down side refused to yield and they stuck over three points on the spin (two in injury time) to leave a distraught Holy Cross to rue what might have been.

In terms of effort, commitment, courage and honesty Strabane really could have done little more. Yes one or two vital scoring opportunities weren’t availed of as the match built to an exciting climax but the whole team can reflect back on their performance (and indeed campaign as a whole) with a great degree of pride.

Captain Conor Langan led by example in attack, where he was well supported by the likes of Josh Gallagher and Corin McConnell, while further out the field the industry and application of players such as Dara Dooher, Aidan Hegarty,Ross Tourish and Ronan McLaughlin had to be applauded.

Despite an early McConnell close range point, Holy Cross were dealt a body blow in the second minute with the concession of a goal, Eoghan Travers finishing crisply to the net after Taidhg O’Hanlon’s skier drifted dangerously in the wind around the Strabane square.

Ruairi Madine guided over a ‘mark’ for St Malachy’s soon after as they went three in front, but Holy Cross then settled impressively to their task and seized a firm grip on proceedings by rattling off a goal and five points without reply.

The athletic Hegarty set the ball rolling having galloped up the right wing before finishing in style, while Langan weighed in with a hat-trick of points, two frees and an audcious effort from out on the left.

Their challenge was really kick-started when they swooped for a 16^th minute goal. Langan’s ball in from deep deceived keeper Callum Travers, and the back-tracking Shea Baker couldn’t prevent it from finding the net as he got the final touch.

With Oisin Kelly also joining in the scoring spree for Holy Cross they had jumped out in front 1-6 to 1-1 by the 20^th minute and appeared well in command.

However the momentum of the contest shifted dramatically in the run up to half time as Castlewellan found their groove. In the blink of the eye they had drawn level, capping some purposeful approach work with five quality scores.

Their towering midfield tandem of O’Hanlon and Chris Kelly-McEvoy were among those to register, as did adventurous full-back Ross Green, and the marauding Madine also drilled over when a goal looked on. It also required a timely interception from Holy Cross defender Conor Gallagher to stop Madine teeing up another goal.

Josh Gallagher stopped the rot for Strabane with a much needed point but in injury time their goal was breached again as Madine swooped with his fist at the near post to divert Travers’ centre past keeper Ronan Ward. (Half-time Holy Cross 1-7 St Malachy’s 2-6)

Strabane flew out of the blocks again on the resumption with Langan twice (one free) and Dara Dooher each making light of the blustery conditions to plant efforts over the bar.

It was nip and tuck there after for a spell, with the action becoming more frenetic, and the sides tied up level on three seperate occasions. Green and O’Hanlon split the posts for St Malachy’s, the latter’s attempt coming on the rebound after Ronan McLaughlin had produced a stunning goal-line clearance for Strabane.

A brace of McConnell frees kept Holy Cross very much in contention with the teams locked together at 1-12 to 2-9 heading into the last five minutes.

The hard-working Langan then steered over the go-ahead free and with further heroics at the other end, this time Ross Tourish preventing a St Malachy’s goal with the clearance, Strabane might have sensed it was going to be their day.

But after O’Hanlon fisted over the leveller in the 60^th minute St Malachy’s kept pushing and points from James Savage and Kelly-McEvoy (free) ensured that the Markey Cup was heading back to the Mournes.

The Scorers

Holy Cross

Conor Langan (1-6,4f), Corin McConnell (0-3,2f), Josh Gallagher, Dara Dooher, Oisin Kelly, Aidan Hegarty (0-1 each)

St Malachy’s

Ruairi Madine (1-3,1m), Taidhg O’Hanlon (0-3), Chris Kelly-McEvoy (0-3), Eoghan Travers (1-0), Ross Green (0-2), James Savage (0-1)

The Teams

Holy Cross

Ronan Ward, John-Paul McMenamin, Conor Gallagher, Ross Tourish, Conall Flanagan, Ronan McLaughlin, Aidan Hegarty, Deane Bradley, Cealaf McMenamin, Ben Arnold, Josh Gallagher, Oisin Kelly, Dara Dooher, Corin McConnell, Conor Langan. Subs used: Oran White for B Arnold (46mins), Dylan Devlin for C McMenamin (54), Adam Vaughan for O Kelly (58)

St Malachy’s

Callum Travers, Luke Brannigan, Ross Green, Shea Baker, Oisin Murray, Corey Trainor, Harry Keenan, Taidhg O’Hanlon, Chris Kelly-McEvoy, Daelach McGreevy, James Savage, Manus Middleton, Ruairi Madine, Eoghan Travers, Caolan Flanagan. Subs used: Odhran McCann for S Baker (46mins), Ryan McCourt for C Flanagan (54), Daire Trainor for M Middleton (54)

Referee: Mark Loughran (Errigal Ciaran)