MacLarnon Cup final defeat for St Eunan's College as Aquinas take a first title

St Eunan’s College were second best against an impressive Aquinas of Belfast in the MacLarnon Cup final at a damp The Dub, Belfast on Thursday evening.

Against a strong breeze in the first half, the Letterkenny school hit just one point in the first half through a Callum McGilloway free as JJ Higgins’ goal made it 1-5 to 0-1 at the break.

Peter Devine’s men might have been happy with that as they played into the heavy wind in the second half, but they were wasteful, and Aquinas upped it a gear, with Jacko Watson hitting a second goal.

Shea Boyle got a point for the Donegal men, and McGilloway got the other three second-half scores, but 1-3 apiece from Higgins and Watson saw the Belfast school take their first title in emphatic fashion, having lost to St Eunan’s by ten points in the groups.

Against a fierce wind, the first quarter saw St Eunan’s dominate possession and Callum McGilloway got the first score from a free on eight minutes, but that would be their only score of the half.

But it could have been better for them as Shea Boyle’s attempt dropped short and was palmed down by Cormac McGarry, with Liam McGinley trying to pounce for a goal, but it somehow stayed out as Aquinas began to grow into the game.

The Belfast school got a first score on 17 minutes through Jacko Watson on the right, and Pádhraig McQuaid put them ahead a minute later with a score from distance.

A free from Higgins put them further ahead, despite the wides totting up, but a super two-pointer from Conn Huston doubled the lead to four.

And while Aquinas were wasteful with the breeze, having a total of eight first-half wides, they got a well-needed goal on 30 minutes as Rhys Bray found Higgins, who shrugged off two tackles and fired a shot low into the bottom left corner via the post for a 1-5 to 0-1 lead at the break.

Higgins got the Grammar School going in the second half with a free, but Shea Boyle kicked a good score on his left to respond.

A shot almost fell invitingly for Liam McGinley, who flashed the ball across goal towards Aaron McGinley, but again the muddy surface took it away from him, while McGilloway added another free.

But Aquinas hit two great scores, first a brilliant solo run and point from Higgins, which was followed up by a laces effort from corner back Oscar O’Connor.

And they hit a second goal after the ball was turned over in midfield by Pádhraig McQuaid, and he found Jacko Watson, who was unmarked.

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Watson raced forward and 1-on-1 with Cormac Crossan, he fired low between the goalkeeper's legs and in for a second green flag.

They almost got a third, but Crossan made a great save to deny Valo Morttilla, as Watson added another score.

But with time running out, St Eunan’s were rushing things and hit seven wides in a row before McGilloway converted a free with two minutes left.

James McEvoy pointed on the counter, with McGilloway responding from distance.

But in added time substitute Johnny Higgins hit a good score in response, and Watson brought his tally to 1-3 as Aquinas ran out worthy winners.

St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny scorers: Callum McGilloway 0-4,3f; Shea Boyle 0-1.

Aquinas Grammar School, Belfast scorers: Jacko Watson 1-3; JJ Higgins 1-3, 0-2f; Conn Huston 0-2,tp; Pádhraig McQuaid, Oscar O’Connor, James McEvoy, and Johnny Higgins 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny: Cormac Crossan; Noah Casburn, Liam McGinley, Mark Galvin; Cormac Cassidy, Evan Daly, Cathal Doherty; Callum McGilloway, Pauric Devine; Jack Duddy, Matthew McGinley, Jack Robinson; Evan Hickey, Matthew Enright, Shea Boyle.

Subs: Aaron McGinley for Duddy (ht), Jonah Cannon and Shay Sweeney for Hickey and Enright (37),  Ronan Lynch for Cassidy (43), Paul Mullen for Robinson (51).

Aquinas Grammar School, Belfast: Cormac McGarry; Oliver Quinn, Frank Heaney, Oscar O’Connor; Conall Vaugh, Conor Frazer, Darragh McQuaid; Pádhraig McQuaid, James McEvoy; Valo Marttilla, JJ Higgins, Rhys Bray; Fintan McArdle, Conn Huston, Jacko Watson.

Subs: Johnny Higgins for Bray (32), Jude Dixon for D McQuaid (45), Shane Bell for O’Connor (53), Rory McConnell for Morttilla (60).

Referee: Paul Gallagher (Tyrone)