McCarthy goal ends Loreto Milford's McLarnon Cup journey

Belfast is guaranteed a team in the final of the Danske MacLarnon Cup next month with a fisted goal from Seán McCarthy eight minutes into the second half the key score as last year’s beaten finalists Rathmore Grammar survived the elements in Owenbeg and a tough challenge from Loreto Milford to set up a semi-final with Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock.
Rathmore Grammar 1-6 Loreto Milford 0-8

A low-scoring encounter had much more to do with the strong wind and driving rain than any attempt by either team to funnel back into defence and rely on the break to set up scores.

Milford was the better team in the opening half and deservedly led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break. The first four of those Milford scores came from the boot of Eoghan Scott with Callum Cullen adding the fifth just before the short whistle.

Rathmore responded with two points from Rudi Smyth and another from Isaac Agnew.

Neither team had scored in the second half before a high ball into the Loreto area from Smyth was punched to the net by Seán McCarthy after 38 minutes.

Milford rallied with Finn Coll and Scott taking the game to Rathmore and, despite a point from Charlie Mickleburgh, points from Scott and John James Sweeney levelled the match at 0-7 each with nine minutes remaining.

However, Rory McErlean pointed twice on the break and the north Donegal side couldn’t break their defence down in the last few minutes for an equaliser.

There could still be Tír Chonail interest in the competition however as Abbey Vocational from Donegal Town play Aquinas Grammar in the last of the quarter-finals on Wednesday afternoon in Garvaghey.

Scorers - Rathmore: Seán McCarthy 1-0, Rory McErlean and Rudi Smyth 0-2 each, Isaac Agnew and Charlie Mickleburgh 0-1 each. Loreto Milford: Eoghan Scott 0-6 (2f), Callum Cullen and John James Sweeney 0-1 each.

Loreto Milford: Cillian O'Hagan; Seán Black, Paidin Shiels, Eoin Gallagher; Oran Gallagher, Finnian Coll, Oisin McHugh; Callum Cullan, John James Sweeney; Rory O'Brien, Caolan Curran, Alex Gerwatowski; Dylan McGlone, Thomas Roache, Eoghan Scott.