A GOAL OF QUALITY
O’Connor’s strike a thing of beauty
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FACING PAGE THE only time in the opening half when St. Peter’s appeared to be struggling was from the sixth to the eleventh minutes when St. Mary’s finally broke downfield and picked off three points from Kevin Small (play and free), Kealan McCann and Tiernan McAteer.
The Derry side’s finishing into a strong wind had been exemplary, but the initiative was quickly seized back. Rory O’Connor was inspired at midfield for the winners, not just because of that goal but also through his tackling, vision, range of passing, and ability to calm things down when some of his colleagues were attempting to do everything at the speed of sound.
He had the ideal partner in the big, strong and bustling Brian Deeny who revelled in the tough conditions, and it was the ultimate tribute to their efforts to see both St. Mary’s midfielders withdrawn before the end.
Although some scoreable chances were missed, just over 14 barren minutes for Peter’s finally ended when Quinn Saunders accepted a Finn O’Driscoll pass and made it 4-3 early in the second quarter.
Barry O’Connor equalised after a fine tackle by Dylan Furlong forced a turnover, while Deeny tested the opposing netminder with a low snapshot.
Rory O’Connor started and finished a move, also involving Peter Barry and Ben Moore, that restored the lead, and Deeny’s second mark of the half led to a forceful run by O’Connor who set up Dylan Lyne to widen the gap to 6-4.
Full-back Ben Maddock popped up next in a very advanced position to collect a Lyne pass and pick off a point with his left, with Cathal Devereux availing of a stray kick by a defender into his path to leave Peter’s with a double scores advantage.
And although Tiernan McAteer hit back with his second score for St. Mary’s, that Saunders goal was the perfect way to end the half and it left St. Peter’s ahead by 1-8 to 0-5 with the elements to tackle on the re-start.
David Gouldson came on for Dylan Lyne and operated largely around the right flank of his defence as the side astutely prepared by Brian Malone and Chris Murphy sought to close off all routes to goal.
However, they were nearly undone in the 34th minute when Kevin Small set up Adam Connolly who tried to place the ball in the top corner of the net but only succeeded in planting it to the right and wide.
Magherafelt did rattle the net on their next attack of note though, and it came after St. Peter’s coughed up possession cheaply with a stray handpass. Liam Quinn and Tiernan McAteer gave impetus to the attack before big targetman Small supplied the finishing touch, and a tough last 23 minutes lay in store after another St. Mary’s interception led to a point for Cormac Murphy (1-8 to 1-6).
Quality and composure was called for, and Rory O’Connor supplied both in equal measure. The ball had been slowly moved from right to left when he received it from Peter Barry, but it was clear from his first steps that there was only thing on his mind as he bolted forward from a standing start, leaving the nearest opponent for dead before and stunning goalkeeper Lynch with a finish for the ages.
Football at this level is all about twists and turns, and that’s what makes it so compelling. And while the game veered in different directions thereafter, ultimately St. Peter’s had done enough to set up a dream final date with St. Brendan’s of Killarney on the hallowed turf of Croke Park next Saturday at 4 p.m.
St. Peter’s: Richie Ryan (Glynn-Barntown); Eoin O’Leary (St. Martin’s), Ben Maddock (St. Martin’s, 0-1), David O’Keeffe (Taghmon-Camross); Quinn Saunders (Our Lady’s Island, 1-1), Conor Firman (St. Martin’s, capt.), Finn O’Driscoll (St. Anne’s); Brian Deeny (Volunteers, 0-1), Rory O’Connor (St. Martin’s, 1-1); Peter Barry (St. Martin’s), Ben Moore (St. Anne’s), Dylan Furlong (Sarsfields, 0-1); Cathal Devereux (Our Lady’s Island, 0-3, 1 free), Barry O’Connor (St. Martin’s, 0-1), Dylan Lyne (Glynn-Barntown, 0-1). Subs. - David Gouldson (St. Mary’s, Rosslare) for Lyne (HT), Michael Codd (St. Martin’s) for Saunders (39), Aaron Breen (Glynn-Barntown) for O’Driscoll, black card (60+2).
St. Mary’s: Odhran Lynch; Seán Kelly, Conor McCluskey, Matthew Loughran; Eamon Kelly, Conall Devlin, Cormac Murphy (1-1); Kealan McCann (0-1), Tiernach Donaghy; Adam Connolly, Simon McErlean, Liam Quinn (0-2); Tiernan McAteer (0-2), Kevin Small (1-3, 0-2 frees), Declan Cassidy. Subs. - Jamie McCann for K. McCann (38), Matthew Rodgers for Connolly (50), Cathal Donnelly for Donaghy (53), Odhran Devlin for Loughran (58).
Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).