By 
Dean Maguirc Carrickmore 2-14 Aquinas Grammar 3-12
DEAN Maguirc Carrickmore’s hopes of reaching a second successive Ulster Schools MacLarnon Cup Final came up agonisingly short at Cherryvale on Thursday night as they lost by the minimum margin to Aquinas Grammar.
It was a contest in which the Dean failed to play the football that they are capable of and they were always chasing the game despite enjoying a great start.
Leading by two points at halftime the Belfast school pushed on in the second period and with just over five minutes left to play they had opened up a six point lead.
To their credit though Dean Maguirc threw everything at them but it proved to be in vain as Aquinas reached their first ever MacLarnon Cup Final. On the day Padraig Donaghy was Dean’s best player with Eoghan Conway, Ciaran McCrystal and Caolan Tracey to the fore as well as they lived to regret nine first half wides.
Midfielder Phelim McCrory opened the scoring for the Dean and they were given a further boost when wing half forward Caolán Tracey scored the opening goal of the game.
JJ Higgins then got the winners up and running and after Fintan McArdle had split the posts as well Valo Martilla grabbed their first goal. That gave the Belfast lads a lead that they were never to lose and they scored another major in the 23rd minute from Padhraig O’Hare.
Dean’s only response during that spell came from a converted free from Caolan Grimes.
As the break approached though Dean Maguirc enjoyed a good spell with Donaghy, Vincent Gormley and Grimes all on target to leave just two between them at the short whistle.
A Grimes free on the resumption reduced the deficit to the minimum but the Dean couldn’t get on level terms. McArdle blasted home the winners’ third goal and that was quickly followed by a two pointer from the boot of James McEvoy.
McCrory replied with a Dean point and they were right back in contention again when Tracey got his second goal of the night.
It was a crucial spell in the game and it was Aquinas who made the best use of the possession that came their way. Conor Frazer lofted over a fine two pointer before Conn Huston and Jacko Watson both raised white flags to move the winners six clear.
Time wasn’t on the Dean’s side but they made as gallant effort to try and at least force extra time. Eoghan Conway and Shane Morris both hit points before Lorcan Meenagh added one from outside the arc. Aquinas though held on for the victory to set up a final clash with St.Eunan’s Letterkenny.
Scorers
Dean Maguirc Carrickmore
Caolan Tracey (2-1,1f), Caolan Grimes (0-5,2f), Phelim McCrory (0-2), Lorcan Meenagh (0-2,tp), Padraig Donaghy, Vicent Gormley, Eoghan Conway, Shane Morris (0-1 each)
Aquinas Belfast
Fintan McArdle (1-32f), Valo Marttila (1-1), Padhraig O’Hare (1-0), Jacko Watson (0-2), James McEvoy (0-2,tp), Connor Frazer (0-2,tp), JJ Higgins, Conn Huston (0-1 each)
Teams
Dean Maguirc Carrickmore
Tarlach Tracey, Eoghan Kelly, Michael Gallagher, Adrian Berlowski, Ciaran McCrystal, Eoghan Cionway, Padraig Donaghy, Phelim McCrory, Michael McCallan, Caolan Tracey, Vincent Gormley, Rory Woods, Odhran Curran, Caolan Grimes, Marcus Conway. Subs: Shane Morris for Berlowski, Sean Donnelly for Curran, Lorcan Meenagh for Woods
Aquinas Belfast
Cormac McGarry, Oliver Quinn, Fran Heaney, Oscar O’Connor, Conall Vaugh, Conor Frazer, Darragh McQuaid, Padhraig O’Hare, James McEvoy, Valo Martilla, JJ Higgins, Rhys Bray, Fintan McArdle, Conn Huston, Jacko Watson.
Referee: Paul Faloon, Down