Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup final
Our Lady’s, Castleblayney 4-8 Patrician, Carrickmacross 0-8
“IT WAS a top class display from start to finish,” claimed Eddie Kelly and few would have disagreed with this summary from Our Lady’s, Castleblayney’s principal and main coach.
His side dominated from the start and were good value for their 4-8 to 0-8 score-line for the school to claim their second Danske Bank MacLarnon title, a decade after their first when Kelly was also in charge.
“We had 25 lads out at 10am on St Stephen’s Day morning. I would say they were the most committed bunch I have ever trained and that includes all the club teams I have taken down the years.”
“We got goals at the right time, sure, but our team ethic is about hard work all over the pitch and I think that our defence were superb.”
“We have two great leaders in the two Barrys, our joint-captains. Again today, they led and the rest followed their example.”
One of those Barrys, centre-forward Barry McGinn was a shoo-in for Player of the Match after hitting all five first half points for Our Lady’s and finishing his day off with a 54th minute goal when he played a series of one-twos with Jamie Walshe.
However McGinn looked to be in serious trouble a couple of minutes from the break when he sustained a shoulder injury.
“I had dislocated it previously in a club game and was afraid that it had gone again. But I was relieved that there was nothing serious.”
“It was very pleasing to perform as we did. We believed that we could keep it really tight at the back and that we would all work hard for each other. We did that to the letter.”
“We had talked about taking our goal chances. We created five and took four. So that was pretty good too.”
The goals came at the right time for ‘Blayney, but then again their team was dominant with Barry Kerr, Eoin McKearney and sweeper Daniel Friskey dominant in defence.
McGinn was all over the pitch, while in the full-forward line, Mícheál Bannigan, James Wilson and Jamie Walshe were always a handful for Carrick.
The game really passed Patrician by, with few players delivering on the big occasion. Their main forwards were well marshalled and defence was always being stretched by the ‘Blayney attack from the throw-in.
Míchéal Bannigan played a one-two with Jamie Walshe to fire in the first after 10 minutes, putting Our Lady’s 1-2 to 0-0 up.
Although David Garland responded with a pointed free to open Patrician High’s account, McGinn shot two more points to give his side a 1-4 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Carrick had their best spell during the third quarter, but still trailed 1-5 to 0-3 at the turnover.
Daire Rowe pointed within a minute of the restart to narrow the gap, but then came the second goal, Barry McGinn providing Jamie Walshe with a defence-splitting pass which the Doohamlet forward slotted to the corner of the net.
Carrick struggled to respond, but were hit after 43 minutes with a third goal, this time corner-forward James Wilson turning his marker to cut in along the end line and shoot to the top of the net.
There was no way back for Carrickmacross after that, trailing 3-5 to 0-6 and not looking to have the penetration to disturb the Castlebalyney defence.
McGinn and Walshe walking in the last goal was simply the icing on the cake and Our Lady’s move on to Saturday when they have to face the Markey Cup winners. However the Principal Eddie Kelly was happy to allow his team enjoy the feeling of success.
“They need to enjoy tonight and then presenting the Cup to the school tomorrow. On Wednesday we will get back on to the pitch, get re-focussed and see what lies ahead.”
Our Lady’s : J Lavelle, E McNally, E McKearney, E McCann, D Friskey, B Kerr, D Ward, J Leonard, C Marray, R Murphy, B McGinn 1-6, 0-3 frees, J Walshe 1-0, J Wilson 1-0, M Bannigan 1-1, F Connolly.
Subs : A Courtney for B McGinn (29), B McGinn for A Courtney (ht), A Courtney 0-1 for R Murphy (56), B Rice for J Walshe (56), J Gorman for J Leonard.
Patrician : S Garland, J Mooney, C Duffy, S Finnegan, A Jones, D Wilson, A Kieran, S Burke, S Cunningham 0-1, P Larney 0-1, R Carolan, F Hannerty, D Rowe 0-4, 0-2 frees, D Garland 0-1 free, R McDonald 0-1.
Subs : J Gartland for R Carolan (36), K Hand for S Cunningham (43), M Monahan for P Larney (56)
Referee : Ciaran Brannigan (Down)

This article first appeared on   www.ulstercolleges.org