Match report by Michael Lavery
Culloville 0-12 Maghery 0-18
Maghery finished at the top of Group A following their six-point victory away to Culloville on Sunday evening.
The weather was a huge factor in the game with torrential rain and strong winds making any sort of free-flowing football almost impossible. But Maghery weathered the storm, using the wind to their advantage in the first half.
The Loughshore men controlled the play in the early periods as both teams came to terms with the conditions. Kevin Robinson opened the scoring from a 45. Maghery then turned over two Culloville kick-outs but failed to take advantage. The ball long towards Lappin falling wide on both occasions.
Fergal Kieran opened Culloville’s accoun,t finishing off a well worked team move with a fisted score. The Blue’s forward found himself through on the Maghery goal and the chance for a major was on but he took the safe option in the early stages and got his team level.
Ben Crealey kicked the next score of the game for Maghery, a huge two-point effort from just inside the 45 made its way over the bar with ease.
Culloville’s Michael Nugent pulled off a great save from point blank range to deny Steven Fox who had pounced on the end of a breaking ball. The save deflected the ball over for a point instead.
Kevin Robinson had a similar attempt at goal deflected over for a point by Daire Dooley not long after. Stefan Forker then kicked a two-point free to extend the visitors lead
The Division 1B Champions responded with back-to-back scores for the first time in the match, albeit there was five minutes between them. A Michael Nugent two point free was followed by another fisted Fergal Kieran point. Kieran kicked the last point of the half Maghery took a five-point lead into the break, leading 12-7.
Second half
The second half started much the same with conditions worsening as the evening went on. Maghery managed the task of playing against the breeze well. They got the scoring started in the second half when Ronan Lappin punched over a Kevin Robinson shot that fell short.
Robinson himself got the next score of the half and pushed his sides lead out to seven points. Scoring came at a premium in the second half with long gaps in between flags being raised. Maghery continued to keep the scoreboard ticking while Culloville tried their best to chip away but couldn’t get any closer than arm’s length.
Shane Carragher popped over a point for the home side just a minute before The Blue’s best chance of the second half. Ruairi Duffy carved open the Maghery defence ten minutes from the end and had an effort saved by Ciaran Robinson.
Carragher’s score was the last of the game. The final ten minutes were a possession-based dog-fight with Maghery aiming to see the game out and Culloville pressing to get the ball back in their hands. Maghery’s six-point margin of victory was enough to see them through as Group A winners. Culloville and Killeavy will now enter the Play-off draw.