ST PETER’S (WEXFORD) will contest the Hogan Cup final for the first time in their history after today’s 2-10 to 2-9 semi-final win over St Mary’s (Magherafelt).
The one-point win for the Wexford school propels them into the decider in Croke Park in ten days time on Saturday 1 April, where they will come up against the reigning champions St Brendan’s (Killarney).
Before today St Peter’s were last in action in late January when they ended a 25-year wait for a Leinster senior crown, while Derry’s St Mary’s had claimed their first MacRory Cup title last Friday.
A late first-half goal from Quinn Saunders helped St Peter’s into a 1-8 to 0-5 interval lead this afternoon, in a match that was switched from Drogheda to Inniskeen GAA grounds in Monaghan beforehand.
The Derry outfit got a major early second-half boost courtesy of a goal by Kevin Small before St Peter’s bounced back with Rory O’Connor netting to push them ahead 2-9 to 1-6 by the 40th minute.
They were seven points clear, 2-10 to 1-6, with eight minutes remaining, before they had to withstand a late St Mary’s rally that yielded 1-3 without reply, the goal coming from Cormac Murphy.
Time ran out on St Mary’s comeback and St Peter’s, who have Wexford footballer Brian Malone as part of their management team, can now look forward to an All-Ireland date.
St Brendan’s will be bidding for a second consecutive All-Ireland crown. The Killarney school ran out 3-13 to 1-11 victors over Mayo side St Colman’s (Claremorris) last Saturday afternoon.
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