A dominant second half saw St Mary’s get the better of Belfast rivals Queen’s at Davitt Park to get their Sigerson Cup campaign off to a flying start.
They didn’t get their noses in front until the 49th minute but when they went ahead again with seven to play, there was no looking back as the sharp-shooting of Niall McKenna and Seán Rock to aid a strong display in the centre third of the field saw them take over.
Queen’s made the early running with Ryan McQuillan kicking them into the lead and although Seán Quigley tied it, they were a step ahead in the opening half with Luke Donnelly and goalkeeper Oran McGrath pointing.
McQuillan and Pádraig Purcell would extend the gap after Daniel Haigney pulled one back but The Ranch remained in touch through Rock and then Fergal O’Brien landed a beauty with the outside of his boot.
However, 23 minutes in the hosts were caught out from. quick free by Luke Donnelly who found McQuillan to rattle the net, yet St Mary’s would enjoy a better run to the half as after an exchange of frees, McKenna and Rock landed to trim the gap to two with Queen’s 1-6 to 0-7 ahead.
That momentum carried into the second half with O’Brien pointing moments after scrambled Queen’s defence shut the door on Callum Logan.
Luke Donnelly did respond from a free, but it was clear the momentum was with St Mary’s and they were back on terms with McKenna and substitute Caolan Reavey on target.
However, a few chances to go in front for the first time came and went, and when Patrick McGurk restored the Queen’s advantage at the other end, it seemed it could be one of those days. Those suspicions grew when Queen’s goalkeeper Oran McGrath fumbled a dropping shot from O’Brien and twice, he managed to recover to save from Dara Mooney.
St Mary’s did grab a leveller from a McKenna free and then the Emyvale man finally put his side in front.
Brian Conway did level it again with nine to play, but this would be the final score for Queen’s as St Mary’s stormed to the line with McKenna, goalkeeper Shea Magill and Rock all landing placed balls before Queen’s lost Matthew Laverty to a black card in added time.
McKenna’s seventh of the day put them out of sight, but they would finish with a flourish as Rock went short with a free, which saw him take a return pass, race in and blast home to seal a win and a place in Round 2A, where they will travel to TUD. Queen’s will now take the scenic route with a trip to the University of Galway this week.
Scorers – St Mary’s: N McKenna 0-7 (4f, 1m); S Rock 1-3 (0-2 f); F O’Brien 0-2; S Quigley, D Haigney, C Reavey, S Magill (45) 0-1 each. Queen’s: R McQuillan 1-2; L Donnelly 0-3 (2f, 1m); P Purcell, O McGrath, B Conway, P McGurk 0-1 each.
ST MARY’S: S Magill; J Donnelly, F Murdock, M Hynes; D Haigney, M McCallan, S O’Donnell; D Treanor, F O’Brien; D Mooney, S Rock, S Quigley; C Logan, N McKenna, D Logue. Subs: C Reavey for C Logan (40), C Walsh for D Mooney (60+4)
QUB: O McGrath; B Conway, J McErlaine, R Boyle; L Downey, L McBride, P McGurk; M Laverty, J Lenaghan; A Crimmins, P Purcell, D Higgins; R Cassidy, R McQuillan, L Donnelly. Subs: C Love for L Donnelly (40), L McManus for P Purcell (46), J O’Hara for R Boyle (52).
REF: Enda Mallon (Armagh)