Callan lose out to Maghera in All-Ireland B schools hurling semi-final

Maghera can count themselves fortunate enough to make it through this semi-final as they under-performed on the day with numerous mistakes and a wide count that reached 16 before the final whistle. Their goals - both scored by Pádraig O'Kane - were crucial to the outcome.

It took seven minutes for Maghera to register their first score through PJ Glover’s effort from well out on the wing. There had already been a couple of soft wides from the Derry side and a brilliant save from Donncha Collins who turned a shot from Aidan Culleton off a post.

Glover’s point made it 0-3 to 0-1. Pádraig O’Kane and Glover closed the gap only for Cathal Russell’s accuracy from frees to put Coláiste Abhann Rí three up with 13 minutes gone.

O’Kane levelled the scores with a driving run and goal soon after and the teams traded scores over the second quarter for Maghera to go in at the break with a narrow lead of 1-7 to 0-9.

John O’Meara tied the teams on the re-start only for Collins to respond with a point from a free and then a low shot from Pádraig O’Kane went all the way to the Callan net.

Odhrán Doherty fired over a long free from inside his own half to make it 2-9 to 0-10 before the Kilkenny side began to claw their way back into the game.

Substitute Alfie Lynch made his mark with a number of possessions and then a huge point from inside his own half. Russell fired over a couple of frees.

There were wides from both sides; Russell pulled a couple wide – as did Maghera with O’Kane just inches away from a hat-trick. Then Callan centre-forward Scott McDonald crashed a shot off the Maghera cross-bar.

Nevertheless points from another sub Aidan O’Shea and free-taker Russell closed the game to a single point with five minutes left on the clock.

Sean O’Kane responded with a Maghera point and at the other end John O’Meara picked off his fourth point of the game before Pádraig O’Kane was taken down in the 59^th minute for a free that Rian Collins converted.

Russell hit back with a point and then came the drama of Alfie Lynch's "goal" being ruled out at the death.

Maghera will now meet Tralee CBS in the final on March 21^st. The Munster champions, who have also qualified for the Hogan Cup final on St Patrick’s Day, defeated Portumna Community School by 1-19 to 0-20 in Tulla earlier on Saturday.

Teams and Scorers

St Patrick’s Maghera: P O’Kane 2-1, R Collins 0-5 (fs), Pj Glover and S O’Kane 0-2 each, C McCloskey, C Gallagher, F Cartin and O Doherty (f) 0-1 each.

Coláiste Abhainn Rí: C Russell 0-10 (0-8 fs), J O’Mara 0-4, S McDonald 0-2, A Lynch, N O’Meara and A O’Shea 0-1 each

St Patrick’s Maghera: D Collins, P Peoples, D O’Neill, O Burke, C Gallagher, O Doherty, D McEldowney, D McCloskey, N McNicholl, C McCloskey, P O’Kane, PJ Glover, R Collins capt, F Cartin, S O’Kane 

Subs used: D McKaigue, O O’Neill, R O’Loughlin, C McKenna