| Abbey CBS, Newry | 0-12 | St. Patrick's, Dungannon | 0-8 | Saturday 10th February 2001 | Sarsfields, Belfast |
Noel Heaney from the Shamrocks club in Newry gave an inspirational performance in the Abbey attack in this hard fought quarter final tie player in Sarsfields Belfast on Saturday last. So much so that Kevin Collins, the Dungannon manager moved Three different defenders onto him during the course of the game. The red haired flyer scored a point in each half from play - But it was his ability to win possession and either gain a free as he attempted to pass his marker or lay the ball off to an Abbey colleague that helped him to his 'Man of the match award'.
This was the third year in a row that these two schools had met at the Quarter final stage, so the Abbey knew that St. Pats were keen to make up for the last two years. The game started with both teams trying to gain the upper hand in the middle. The Tyrone school's ploy of crowding the middle and breaking rather than fielding balls meant that football was scrappy. Abbey's Peter Turley pointed a free and then scored a long range point from play to settle the Newry lads. Dungannons Terry McGurk scored two points from frees before Heaney got the first of his two scores. Both schools were guilt of missing numerous scores in the first half, not only from 45's and play - but close in frees that should be converted at this level. Towering midfielder Turley scored his third point of the half from a free before Stephen Kearney showed why he is captain of the Abbey with a point from a free at a difficult angle. The Newry school was leading by three points and missing some goal chances to give them a cushion at half time. Darren Cunningham, David Hogg and Martin Rafferty worked hard in the Abbey defence to stop numerous St. Pats attacks. Dungannon finished the half strong with two points in a row- the first a free from McGurk, then their only point from play in the first half by Thomas McGuigan (son of the famous Frank).
Martin Rafferty raced forward to score a great point to put two points between the teams before McGuigan pointed a free to leave the bare minimum between the schools at half time. Just before the half time whistle Colm Lynchenaun made an excellent save by punching a shot at point blank range off the bar and away to safety.
Half time score: Abbey 0-6 V St. Patrick's 0-5
Strong words from managers Rafferty and Rath during the interval questioning the Abbey's commitment and pride bore fruit at the start of the second half as they settled quickly. Following a few wides Brain Sloan drove through to score their first point. Martin Rafferty and Stephen Kearney added to the Abbey total before McGuigan pulled a point back for St. Pat's from a free. Michael Martin and Rory Mulvaney worked hard in the half forward line - coming back into their defence to help when the Abbey was not in possession. The wind seemed to favour the Newry school and the long ball into full forward Shane O'Neill was paying off. Mulvaney and Kearney pointed frees before Dungannons full forward John McConville scored Dungannons only point from play in the second half. With only 10 minutes remaining the Abbey were leading 0-10 v 0-7. Kevin McGuigan and Kevin Fearon were now having a greater impact in the Abbey defence and the Newry school were passing with confidence. Kearney and Heaney pointed for the Abbey before McGuigan got St. Pats last score of the game. However, it was too little too late as the Abbey finished the stronger in the last quarter and now play either St. Michael's Enniskillen or St, Patrick's Armagh in the Semi-final on Monday 5th march, venue to be arranged.
Abbey Scorers:
Peter Turley 0-3 (2 frees), Stephen Kearney 0-3 (2 frees), Noel Heaney 0-2,
Martin Rafferty 0-2, Brian Sloan 0-1, Rory Mulvaney 0-1.
Abbey Team
Colm Lynchenaun, Darren Cunningham, David Hogg, Kevin McGuigan, Patrick Kearney, Kevin Fearon, Martin Rafferty, Peter Turley, Brian Sloan, Michael Martin, Stephen Kearney (Capt) Rory Mulvaney, Jonathan Morgan, Shane O'Neill, Noel Heaney.
Subs used: Liam Smyth for Patrick Keary, Paul Rice for Jonathan Morgan, Patrick Donnelly for Michael Martin.
| Abbey CBS, Newry | 1-8 | St. Michael's, Enniskillen | 0-10 | Wednesday 15th November 2000 | Castleblaney |
Supersub Jonathon Morgan sunk St. Michael's Enniskillen and earned Abbey CBS a win in the Newry School's first game in the MacRory Cup group A at Castleblaney.
The Fermanagh side, winners in 1999 and finalists this year, had battled back from an early goal and a three-point deficit in the closing stages but could not reply to a well-taken winning point from the Attical player.
The victory brought revenge for Abbey after losing to Enniskillen in last year's semi-final replay at Omagh.
Abbey got off to a dream start with Aaron Kernan, son of Crossmaglen manager Joe, finding the net within ten seconds of the throw-in.
Yet St. Michael's opened their account with a Niall Gormley free and two good points from Ciaran O'Reilly levelled the game
Irish U17 star Martin Rafferty put the Newry side in front before Damian Shannon from play and O'Reilly with a free gave the Enniskillen boys a one-point half-time advantage, 0-5 to 1-1
Both sides tried to dominate centre field early in the second half leading to more breaking balls than clean catches, but St. Michael's opened up a two-point gap thanks to an O'Reilly free
However, this sparked an Abbey comeback with captain and Colleges Allstar Stephen Kearney notching three points to restore a lead of 1-4 to 0-6
Enniskillen coach Dominic Corrigan bodly moved full-back Paul Gunn and full-forward, Sean Doherty into mid-field and this had an immediate effect.
Points from Gormley, O'Reilly and midfielder James Sherry seemed to have secured a draw until Morgan had the final say.
Abbey CBS Newry scorers - Aaron Kernan (1-0), Stephen Kearney (0-3), Martin Rafferty (0-2), Michael McNamee (0-1), Noel Heaney (0-1), Jonathon Morgan (0-1).
St. Michael's Enniskillen scorers - Ciaran O'Reilly (0-5), Niall Gormly (0-2), Damian Shannon (0-1), Niall McVeigh (0-1), James Sherry (0-1)
