Prenter goals just the ticket

Prenter goals just the ticket

20 March 2019

ST Patrick’s Grammar School produced a sizzling display to get the better of a resolute Cathair Dhoire side in a nailbiting showdown at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Monday.

The Red High had to show great fortitude and tenacity in one of the most exciting and entertaining MacLarnon Cup finals in years as the Derry amalgamation threatened to ruin St Patrick’s day.

The Downpatrick lads weren’t found wanting when the chips were down and two goals from man of the match Tim Prenter — one in each half — was the main difference between the sides.

Prenter was a deserved recipient of the award as he continually stalked the Cathair Dhoire defence  at every opportunity and had them chasing shadows every time he went near the ball.

Loughinisland’s Brandon Boyd opened the scoring for the Red High after only 20 seconds. Club mate Peter McMullan fielded the resultant kick out and released Ronan Connor to make it 0-2 to 0-0 after less than a minute’s play.

However, Cathair Dhoire started pushing up on the Red High kick-outs and this proved an effective tactic with scores flowing from Cahir McMonagle, Fergal Mortimer (free) and Ben McCarron (0-2) to take a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after just five minutes of free-flowing football.

It could have been even worse for St Patrick’s as Cathair Dhoire wasted two excellent goal chances with superb defending from Bryansford’s Jack Harbinson denying McCarron with a timely block.

The Red High started gaining possession in and around the middle of the park, but they definitely missed the ball winning ability of Saul’s Ruairi O’Hare in this sector, although he did start at full forward.

O’Hare picked up an injury while playing for the Northern Ireland U-18 team in a Centenary Shield game against Wales on Thursday night, but his switch to leading his side’s attack worked a treat.

With seven minutes of non-stop football gone Prenter, a senior county hurler, left three defenders trailing in his wake as he cut through the Cathair Dhoire cover before drilling the ball low and hard into the bottom corner of the net.

Not a bad goal considering there was absolutely nothing on when the Downpatrick player received the ball out on the left flank.

The Red High now had a grip on the game and O’Hare plundered the next five points for his side, two from frees, but Cathair Dhoire kept in touch with two points from McCarron, leaving the Downpatrick school with a 1-7 to 0-6 lead after 24 minutes.

The Derry amalgamation sensed blood and towering midfielder Oran McGrath plucked the ball out of the air and ended a bustling run with an improvised finish to the net.

Cathair Dhoire were far from finished and unanswered points from McCarron, McMonagle and Mortimer had the sides level after 44 minutes with all to play for.

It could have been curtains for the Red High at this stage, but ‘keeper Eoin Maginn saved his side’s bacon with two wonderful saves.

Ruairi Quinn edged the Red High back in front just minutes after being introduced and the impressive O’Hare made it a 1-12 to 1-10 game 49 minutes.

Prenter then finished Cathair Dhoire off with a second sensational goal. McMullan converted a late free after O’Hare had been sent off and McCarron grabbed the last score of the game for a battling Derry side.

St Patrick’s: E Maginn, J Harbinson, E Rooney, L Guiness, P McMullan, R Murphy, B Boyd (0-2, 0-1 45), C Watson, R O’Hare (0-6, 0-4 f), T Smyth (0-1), O Cunningham, N Laverty, T Prenter (2-0), R Connor (0-3), T Savage. Subs : T Carson for L Guinness, R Quinn (0-1) for T Savage, C Murray for T Smyth, D Donaldson for R Connor, R Wynn for O Cunningham.

Cathair Dhoire: M Stephenson, P O’Flaherty, N Ó Mianáin, M Lynch, J Mullan, S McElhinney, C McLoughlin, C Mooney, O McGrath (1-0), S Browne, B McCarron (0-6, 0-2 f), F Mortimer (0-3, 0-2 f), R Brown, E Cassidy (0-1), C McMonagle (0-1). Subs: J Lynch for R Brown, J óg Moore for S Brown, T O’Kane for C McLaughli, O McMenamin for J Mullan.

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).

St Patrick’s GS 2-13

Cathair Dhoire 1-11

MACLARNON CUP FINAL