Aquinas Grammar

Aquinas Grammar Belfast 1-9 Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny 1-6

A good wind-assisted first half helped Aquinas Grammar Belfast claim a semi-final spot in the Danske Bank O’Doherty Cup in difficult conditions in Garvaghey last evening.

A fortunate twelfth minute goal from Eoin McMenamin gave the Belfast side an early boost and they went on to lead by 1-7 to 0-1 at the break with all their scores coming from open play and five of the points posted by the excellent Eoin Nagle.

However it was back against the wall stuff during the second half for the Belfast side with Brian McCarthy. Brendan Gallen and Andy Harney all performing heroics in holding Coláiste Ailigh to just four points in the opening 25 minutes of the second half, two of the points fired over by Niall Hannigan.

Then Aquinas broke to shoot two points inside 60 seconds – from hurling All-star Ronan Costelloe and Lorcan Fahy – so that when Hannigan goaled for Letterkenny at the start of injury time, there was little chance of the score changing the outcome.

Aquinas will play the winners of Thursday’s quarter-final between Largy College Clones and St Mary’s Clady (11am in St paul’s Lurgan).

Today (TUESDAY) St Mary’s Limavady will take on Ballybay Community School (12.30pm in Mid Ulster Sports Arena) with the winner facing whoever survives the Dean Maguirc Carrickmaore v Magh Ene College Bundoran game on Thursday (12pm, Trillick).

Aquinas : Eoin McMenamin 1-0, Eoin Nagle 0-5, Phelim Lennon 0-2, Ronan Costelloe 0-1 Lorcan Fahy 0-1.

Coláiste Ailigh : Niall Hannigan 1-2, 0-1 free, Jack Mac Ceallabhuí 0-2 frees, Brian Mac an tSaoir 0-1, Eoin Mac Aoidh 0-1.

Report originally posted: http://www.danskebankulsterschoolsgaa.com/match_reports/aquinas-claims-semi-final-spot-odoherty/