St Patrick’s Maghera book their spot in MacRory Cup quarter-finals

• St Patrick’s Armagh 1-8
• St Patrick’s Maghera 1-6

St Patrick’s Maghera still finished as group winners and booked their spot in the post-Christmas quarter-finals despite defeat to St Patrick’s Armagh on Friday afternoon.

Before a ball was kicked, Maghera were guaranteed top spot thanks to wins in their first two games with Abbey and St Macartan’s Monaghan with a +18 score to go with it.

On the flip side Armagh were destined for fourth spot and elimination but they finished their campaign with a flourish, albeit Maghera rested the gut of their first team.

Maghera, who have Derry defensive ace Chrissy McKaigue as part of their management team, will may have to plan their title tilt without Danny McDermott who faces an operation after sustaining an injury in Glen’s win over Naomh Conaill.

It was a rampant 10-minute spell after half time that Armagh on their way to victory in their own backyard at Pearse Óg.

A 40th minute goal from Daniel Cullen shot Armagh into a 1-7 to 1-1 team against a skeleton St Patrick’s Maghera side.

The Derry side rallied late on but weren’t able to engineer the second goal they needed to back up wins over St Macartan’s Monaghan and Abbey.

It was Maghera who owned the ball for the opening 10 minutes but didn’t have the pith to break down an Armagh team already out of the competition.

It was the home side who notched the first score, the first of five from Pauric O’Keefe. His second, a sweet score from the wing, doubled their lead before Maghera opened their account with a 19th minute Rory McGonigle free.

Che McCloskey then broke the line to tee up Sean Boyd for a Maghera goal four minutes later and they led at the break, 1-1 to 0-3.

John Joe Hughes set the Armagh tone with a score early in the second half and their more direct approach was asking questions of Maghera.

Three O’Keefe frees added to the Armagh tally before Cullen’s dipped shop nestled on the top corner of Odhran McElhinney’s net.

Rhys Creaney popped the final Armagh score – again after a high ball into their attack - of the game in the 43rd minute before the Maghera revival.

Darach McGonigle and substitute Turlough McHugh cut the margin to four points but the visitors needed a goal.

Shea Birt had a half hance denied by goalkeeper Damien Adam before the Maghera goalmouth scramble was blocked.

Birt and Boyd notched late sores but it was Armagh who held on for the win.

Armagh: Damien Adam; Aodhan O’Connor, Dara Gillan, Daniel Cullen (1-0); Morgan Fox, Oran Callaghan, Sean Kelly; Paul Hendron (0-1), Pauric O’Keefe (0-5, 4f); Dara Harney, John Joe Hughes (0-1), Colm Hughes; Ronan Donnelly, Patrick McKee, Rhys Creaney (0-1)

Maghera: Odhran McElhinney; Ryan McGarvey, Bobby Butcher, Eamon Hassan; Shea Birt (0-1), Joe Dillon, Kevin Barry Mullan; Dara McPeake, Colman Bradley; Rory McGonigle (0-2f), Che McCloskey, Gavin McIvor; Marc McGurk, Darach McGonigle (0-1), Sean Boyd (1-1, 1f). Subs: Turlough McHugh (0-1), Cillian Moore, Finbar McShane, Padraig Haran, Conor Johnston

Referee: Martin Conroy (Moy)