Abbey CBS, Newry 2-7 St. Mary's, Magherafelt 0-7

Abbey CBS, Newry strolled impressively into the MacRory Cup decider on St. Patrick’s Day in Casement Park, Belfast, when they defeated St. Mary’s, Magherafelt in Saturday’s Semi-Final clash at O’Neill Park, Dungannon. Abbey had been underdogs going into this match as the Derry school had won the ‘McCormick Cup’ before Christmas and had beaten a good St. Patrick’s, Armagh side in their Quarter Final. Contesting two tough games with St. Patrick’s, Dungannon over the last two weekends to win this Semi-Final spot, stood to the Abbey as their confidence and flair on the ball in this clash was more superior than St. Mary’s.

Team Manager Jody Gormley, Head of P.E. had been working on the problem of converting the vast amount of possession into scores that had been identified in the two quarter final games. The Abbey showed a lot of character as they led up to half time. However St. Mary’s drew level and then took the lead in the opening period of the second half. But rather then ‘capitulate’ to the opposition, the Newry School ‘moved up a-gear’ and took the game by the ‘scruff’ of the neck as the leaders of the team came to the fore and hauled the school back into the game.

The Abbey had a dream start to the game when Down Minor Seamus Grant from Mayobridge scored a goal after five minutes. St. Mary’s replied straight away when their tall, strong mid fielder Niall McNicholl drove over the bar. Grant added to his goal in the ninth minute with a well worked point, starting in the half back line with Darren Rowland and Ciaran Coffey, driving up the left wing to Daniel Clarke, before Niall Devlin set up Grant.

A few minutes later full forward Niall Rocks pulled a point back for St. Mary’s. The Derry school had a great opportunity for a goal midway through the 1st half when McNicholl drove a free into the left corner to Dwaine McVeigh who found Shane Barton, Kevin O’Boyle, Rocks and Barton again into the well placed John Higgins who had only the Abbey ‘keeper Cathal Murdock to beat, but he drove over the bar, to leave a point between the schools. Abbey’s midfield pair of Kevin Dyas and Richard Gilmore were winning vital possession at his time and Captain Kevin McKernan in centre half back was distributing quality balls into his forward line.

St Mary’s full back line Michael Bateson, Mark Collins and Dermot McBride were soaking up a lot of pressure, constantly turning over Abbey attacks when Dyas took a short free to Grant, he quickly took a return pass and confidently drove over the bar for the first score after a ten minute break. McNicholl and Barton had opportunities but wided and with five minutes of the half to go McNicholl pointed a free after he had been grounded. Both defences were on top at this stage as Devlin for Abbey and McVeigh for St. Mary’s were blown up for over-carrying.

Both showing total commitment and passion with excellent displays at tackling and blocking. Mark Digney and Rory Grant did a good job holding St. Mary’s ‘two-man’ full forward line at bay up to the interval.

HALF TIME SCORE: Abbey CBS, Newry 1 -2 v St. Mary’s, Magherafelt 0 – 4.

St Mary’s began the second half determined to get an equaliser. This was achieved in the second minute when McNicholl took a pass from his midfield partner Jared Monaghan and pointed after a strong run. Another chance to take the lead was missed when a ‘square ball’ was given against them. Ciaran Coffey drove forward from wing back and scored a great point after a move involving full forward Sean Murdock and Niall Devlin. But St. Mary’s equalised again when Danny Mulholland fisted over the Bar.

St. Mary’s took the lead for the first time ten minutes into the half when a slick inter passing move starting in the half back line with Darren McKillion, and involving O’Boyle, Monaghan, McKillion again, Barton, McVeigh, and Mulholland won a free that Justin Crozier scored. Rocks had a chance to tag on another point for the Derry school, but blasted wide. Sensing they could be going of the competition – The Abbey began to lift the siege. Kevin Dyas took a free that had been won by Murdock, which resulted in a fine score by Grant.

Sean Murdock put the Abbey a point up after Cathal Magee started a great move that involved Murdock, Murney and Devlin. A turning point came midway through he half when Magherafelt’s Mulholland rounded his marker and drove through the Abbey defence for a one-on-one with Murdock in the Abbey goals. The big Burren net minder pulled off a great save to deny the Newbridge opportunist Richard Gilmore was having an excellent game. Silverbridge’s Gerard McGarvey had been substituted just before half time and was re-introduced with ten minutes remaining.

This shall be remembered as an ‘inspired substitution’ as his first touch was to jump with the Magherafelt full back on the edge of the square and flick the ball to the St. Mary’s net after Dyas had hit a high ball on top of him. Grant tagged on another score to leave five points between the schools. But St. Mary’s were not going to give up without a fight.

With five minutes to go they were unlucky when they missed 3 opportunities for scores on the trot. The first was yet another great save from Murdock in the Abbey goals after St. Mary’s Mulholland tried to rectify his earlier goal chance. Crozier hit the post from a free and the ball bobbled in the Abbey goal mouth before being cleared. The third chance came when McVeigh put Donal Murray through and he blasted wide. Magherafelt realised that it wasn’t going to be their day.

When Rowland and McKernan turned over St. Mary’s attacks and Devlin fired over to leave two goals between the schools, the large colourful Abbey support sang ‘We’re going to Casement of the 17th March’ as the final whistle sounded.

This is the first time that the Abbey has been in a MacRory Cup Final since they beat their Newry rivals St. Colman’s in 1987. Their opponents are not known yet as St. Louis, Kilkeel have to play the winners at Omagh CBS and St. Michael’s, Enniskillen in the other Semi-Final.

Teams and Scorers:

Abbey CBS, Newry: Cathal Murdock ( Burren), Mark Digney (Newry Shamrocks), Colm Murney (Rostrevor), Rory Grant (Clonduff), Darren Rowland (Culloville), Kevin McKernan (Captain, Burren), Ciaran Coffey (Newry Shamrocks) 0-1, Kevin Dyas (Dromintee) 0-1, Richard Gilmore (Dromara), Gerard McGarvey (Silverbridge) 1-0, Seamus Grant (Mayobridge) 1-3, Daniel Clarke (Saval), Niall Devlin (Saval) 0-1, Sean Murdock (Burren) 0-1, Ruairi Cunningham (Newry Shamrocks).

Subs Used: Cathal Magee (Mayobridge) and Gerard McGarvey.

St. Mary’s, Magherafelt: Gary Mulholland (Ballymaguigan), Michael Bateson (Newbridge), Mark Collins (Captain, Ogra Colmcille), Dermot McBride (Ballinascreen), Darren McKillion (Ballinascreen), Justin Crozier (Cargin), 0-1, Kevin O’Boyle (Cargin), Niall McNicholl (Castledawson) 0-3, Jared Monaghan (Magherafelt), John Higgins (Ballinderry) 0-1, Shane Barton (Moneymore), Danny Mulholland (Newbridge) 0-1, Donal Murray (Desertmartin), Niall Rocks (Moortown) 0-1, Dwaine McVeigh (Moortown). Subs Used: Stephen Lennon (Cookstown) and John Devlin (Ballinderry).

Referee: Stephen McNamee (Tyrone).