Omagh CBS 0-7 V. Abbey CBS, Newry 1-3
A goal in the last minute by Abbey’s Stephen Quinn wasn’t enough to get the
Newry school into the hat for the next round of this years Bank of Ireland
MacRory Cup. Omagh CBS greated the final whistle with relief at a wet and windy
Monaghan Harps ground with their Christian Brothers’ opponents pushing for the
equaliser in this low key quarter final match. The Newry school shall be
disappointed as they won more possession than Omagh CBS but a combination of
not converting this possession into scores and poor passing in the final third
of the field led to their downfall.
The game started with the Abbey captain and Ulster Colleges Hurling Allstar Eoin
McGuinness leading the way and pointing the opening score after driving forward
from midfield. Then Omagh got three unanswered points. The first was from Shaun
O’Neill after determined work by Cathir Tierney. This was followed by a good
team effort out of the Omagh defense that led to Kevin Gallagher in full
forward latching onto a point. Abbey’s Kevin Dyas at centre half back was
beginning to show why he has been an Armagh county minor for the last two years
with his ability to break down moves and set up attacks for his own team.
As the weather conditions deteriorated both teams to their credit battled with
the elements. Mistakes were made on both sides as passes went astray and balls
skidded on the greasy surface. Nippy corner forward Shane Coyle gave the Tyrone
school a two point cushion when he gathered a ball that had slid under his
marker and with only the ‘keeper to beat blasted the ball over the bar. The
Abbey forward line was re-organised and Stephen Quinn pointed the last score of
the half after good work by his team mate Seamus Toner.
Half time score Omagh CBS 0-3 V. Abbey CBS, Newry 0-2.
Omagh started the second half stronger and scored a point in the first minute
when their big midfielder and Ulster Colleges Allstar Sean O’Neill latched
onto a ball following inter-passing from Shaun O’Neill and Kevin Gallagher.
Silverbridge’s Gerard McGarvey pulled a point back for the Abbey before
Gallagher got onto a pass that had been fielded by Tierney in the middle.
Another one of Omagh’s three football Allstars Stephen Donaghy, playing in
full forward pointed a free to give the Tyrone school a three point lead.
Midway through the second half Michael McAllister in the Abbey goals pulled off
a great save from Omagh’s Conor McCullagh, diving at his feet to put the ball
around the post. Burren’s Kevin McKernan was trying to drag his school back
into the match with his display in midfield. The Ulster Colleges football
Allstar won possession for the Abbey as he fielded numerous balls under
pressure from his opponents.
Omagh CBS moved into a four point lead in the last ten minutes when their
captain Ronan McRory scored the school’s last point from twenty metres. Rather
than continue to attack, Omagh pulled players back to defend their lead and
this nearly cost them the game as the Abbey pushed forward to get that elusive
goal. In this thrilling period numerous balls were lobbed into the Omagh square
but each time were either blocked or cleared by a stubborn defence. Defenders
like Hugh Gallagher, John Cassidy, Joey Kelly and Dean O’Neill were not giving
up their lead without a fight.
With five minutes left Abbey’s Stephen Quinn missed an important close-in free,
but he made up for his miss a few minutes later when Dyas passed to him and
‘soccer style’ he danced around a few defenders and slotted the ball low into
the net in the final minute. Much as they tried to get another score, the Newry
school were out of time – the goal had come too late.
Omagh must raise their game for a semi-final against either St. Michael’s,
Enniskillen or St. Patrick’s, Maghera as another performance like this shall
not be good enough to get a day out on St. Patrick’s Day in Casement Park in
the final. Although they shall be satisfied that ‘the job was done’ they know
that it was too close for comfort and that if the Abbey had possessed more
scoring forwards then the result could have been different.
Teams and scorers:
Abbey CBS Newry: Michael McAllister, Mark Digney, Darren Fegan, Rory Grant,
Robert Ryan, Kevin Dyas, Darren Rowland, Kevin McKernan, Eoin McGuinness,
Captain(0-1), Stephen Quinn(1-1), Cathal Magee, Padraig McGahon, Seamus Grant,
Gerard McGarvey(0-1), Seamus Toner. Subs used: Ruairi Cunningham and Brendan
Allen.
Omagh CBS: Kerill Winters, Hugh Gallagher, John Cassidy, Joey Kelly, Dean
O’Neill, Brendan Martin, Mel Cassidy, Sean O’Neill(0-1), Cathir Tierney, Conal
McCullagh, Ronan McRory, Captain(0-1), Shaun O’Neill(0-1), Shane Coyle(0-1),
Kevin Gallagher(0-2), Stephen Donaghy(0-1). Subs used: Conor O’Donnell and
Cathal McCarron.
Referee: Michael Convery, Derry.