DANSKE BANK MacLarnon Cup

Game turns on Red Card decision

March 30, 2013

Noonan Cup semi-final

St Attracta’s Tubbercurry 3-10   St Michael’s Lurgan 0-7

The wheels came off the wagon for St Michael’s Lurgan in the 36^th minute of their Noonan Cup semi-final with St Attracta’s Tubbercurry in Derrylin on Saturday.

That was when half-forward John Magee picked up his second yellow card and made his way to the dug-out.

Tubbercurry, who had captain Jason Brennan similarly dismissed in the 25^th minute, immediately picked up the pace and Jason Perry’s goal in the 40^th minute was the beginning of the end for the MacLarnon Cup winners.

St Michael’s coach David Wilson felt that his side were just ready to “kick-on” when they came back to within a point.

“It was a very harsh sending off and I felt that we were just ready to move ahead.  We had nullified their threats and were just a point off.”

“When the game opened up though in the last 20 minutes, St Attracta’s dictated the play and were deserving winners,” he acknowledged.

“I thought the penalty was a harsh call as well, but that is the way things go sometimes.  We didn’t get the run of the ball today.”

A big problem for Lurgan was their dependence on full-forward Ruairí Loughran for scores.  The Aghagallon lad accounted for all 7 points, 5 of them from frees.

Lenehan played well at midfield during the opening half, but his influence waned thereafter.  Pluses though were the performances of Drew McKenna and Shea Heffron throughout the game.

St Michael’s were in control for chunks of the opening half, but didn’t translate that on to the scoreboard.  In the wake of Brennan’s red card, Loughran levelled the game at 0-3 each.

There was a setback however right on half-time with goalie Jack Wilson shown yellow for what looked like a foot tackle.  Perry dispatched the resultant penalty to open the gap between the teams at the break, 1-3 to 0-3.

Loughran pointed twice on the re-start to leave the minimum between the teams just before Magee saw yellow for the second time.

Perry’s second goal turned the game in favour of Tubbercurry.  Cian Gilmartin, Padraig Mitchell, Stephen Connolly and Perry all pointed over the next 10 minutes and then, in the 52^nd minute, Gilmartin blasted theSligo team’s third goal.

Loughran pointed in reply, but the game was gone and sub Darragh Kilcoyne tagged on a late score to confirm St Attracta’s passage to the final where they will meet Our Lady’s Templemore.

St Michael’s : Jack Wilson, Jason Rogers, Drew McKenna, Adam Kelly, Aaron Casey, Shea Heffron, Eoin McCabrey, Oisin Lenehan, Jonathan Torode, John Magee, Diarmuid O’Hagan, Declan Heaney, Padraig Judge, Ruairi Loughran 0-7, 0-5 frees, James McDade.

Subs : Matthew Mulholland for D Heaney, Niall O’Neill for A Casey, Paddy Sheehan for A Kelly, Conor McConville for P Judge.

St Attracta’s: Eoin McDonagh, Pearse Gorman, Barry Walsh, Michael Gordon, Stephen Barrett, John Carr, Niall Murphy 0-1, Cathal Henry (0-4, 3f), Jason Brennan (c), Stephen Connolly 0-1, Padraig Mitchell 0-1, Kenneth Gavigan, Jason Perry 2-1, 1-0 penalty, Cian Gilmartin 1-1, Conor McIntyre.
Subs used: Darragh Kilcoyne 0-1 free for C McIntyre (ht).

Referee : Martin Higgins (Fermanagh)