Tasker St Patrick’s hero

After 125 years of waiting, St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna are back in the county final after a dramatic semi-final against Ballymacnab.

Trailing by seven points (2-8 to 0-7) at half-time on Saturday, they looked set to make a tame exit.

But a spectacular comeback, highlighted by a significant contribution from Robbie Tasker (1-7), superb work by the Casey brothers, Pearse and Eugene, and a never-say-die spirit, eventually brought them an unlikely one-point victory (1-14 to 2-10).

Jack Grugan’s two first-half goals had put Ballymacnab in the driving seat but when Tasker swooped for three points in the opening five minutes of the second-half he laid the basis for a sparkling recovery by St Patrick’s.

Fittingly, it was Tasker who thundered home a glorious 53rd minute goal which took his team to within two points of their opponents. In a frenetic finish, the Caseys, along with Tasker, shared in three history-making scores to book a final meeting with Crossmaglen Rangers.

For their part, the Rangers were given a fright by Maghery in the other semi-final. The sides were deadlocked at the break (0-6 to 1-3) with Paul Forker’s penalty goal proving crucial to Maghery. But Rangers summoned on all their experience to pull away in the third quarter during which Tony Kernan, Aaron Cunningham, Stephen Kernan and Kyle Carragher were on target to win by 0-15 to 1-9.