Dean Maguirc College Carrickmore progressed to the last eight in the MacLarnon Cup courtesy of a win over St Patrick’s Keady at Loughmacrory on Friday afternoon.

In a cagey opening quarter Keady, with the wind on their back, dominated the early exchanges.  and led as the game approached the end of the first quarter. The springboard for their early dominance was there huge physical presence in the middle where midfielders

Charlie Lennon and Darragh McKee proved a handful. Keaton O’Hara finished off a scrambled goal for Keady to add to points from Paidi Comiskey, Peter Keegan, Cohen McCann.

As the half progressed the Dean grew into the game pushing ahead with points from Phelim McCrory, Caolan Teacey, Vincent Gormley and some accurate free taking from Caolan Grimes (0-4). A busy Odhran Curran was winning ball inside and setting up scores.The difference between the teams was stretched out just before the short whistle with a great strike from Marcus Conway which found the corner of the Keady net to leave it 1-9 to 1-3 at the break.

Keady started well from the throw-in for the second half when the towering Charlie Lennon caught and drove towards goals to win a penalty which was dispatched with ease by Paidi Comiskey, a player who impressed over the hour. With just three points separating the teams Keady attacked with a renewed vigour but Eoghan Kelly and Micheal Gallagher in particular held strong in the Dean full back line. In their half back line Ciaran McCrystal and Eoghan Conway showed their class and strong runs from Poggie Donaghy drove Dean forward repeatedly.

Phelim Mc Crory and Micheal McCallan began to get the upper hand at midfield in the last quarter to see the Dean eventually pull clear. Keady could only add one more point in the last quarter with the Dean having  a spread of scorers including points from Mc Crory, freetaker Grimes and substitute Meenagh. Second half replacement, Shane Morris, made an immediate impact winning a vital kickout and several  breaking balls. The highlight of this period was a goal finished by Rory Woods following a sweeping move which began with a turnover deep in the Dean defence as they progressed on a 2-15 to 2-4 scoreline.

Dean: Conor McPhilips, Eoghan Kelly, Micheal Gallagher, Ciaran McKenna, Ciaran McCrystal,  Eoghan Conway(0-1), Padraig Donaghy, Micheal McCallan, Phelim McCrory(0-3), Rory Woods(1-0), Vincent Gormley(0-1), Caolan Tracey(0-1), Odhran Curran, Caolan Grimes(0-6 f), Marcus Conway(1-1). Subs: Shane Morris for Tracey,  Lorcan Meenagh for Curran, Eoin Mullan for Grimes,  Adrian Berlowski for  McKenna.