St Ronan’s pull away in last quarter of Armagh derby

Danske Bank MacCormack Cup semi Final
St Ronan’s Lurgan 3-10 St Paul’s Bessbrook 1-8
Danske Bank MacCormack Cup holders St Ronan’s Lurgan are back in the final after dominating this semi-final tie in the Athletic Grounds in Armagh last evening.
They twice pulled four points clear only for St Paul’s Bessbrook pull themselves back level, but when Tiarnan Kelly’s break and off-load to Ruairí McConville ended low in the Bessbrook net in the 44th minute, St Ronan’s were again four points to the good and this time they pushed on to double that difference during the final quarter.
After Oisin Smyth’s opening two points were pulled back by Seamus Loughran and Oran Kearins frees, the home side built up a 0-6 to 0-2 lead with points from McConville, Kelly, Monteiro and Meehan before the 20th minute.
St Paul’s stopped the rot with four points without reply before the break from Niall Quinn, Jack Cunningham, Seamus Loughran and Ryan Connolly.
However St Ronan’s came out strongly for the second half and Jamie Haughey blazed down the field from half-back to fire home after 70 seconds with Josh Megoran adding a point.
Although a point from Niall Quinn and then a goal from Ryan Hughes brought the sides level once more at 1-7 each, St Paul’s couldn’t get a lead score to put any pressure on the north Armagh outfit.
Then came the McConville goal and St Ronan’s were in charge again, finishing their opponents off in the 57th minute when a long through ball was brilliantly fielded by Tiarnan Kelly and belted low into the net for a third Lurgan goal
St Ronan’s : Tiarnan Kelly 1-2, 0-1 free, Ruairi McConville 1-1, Jamie Haughey 1-0, Oisin Smyth 0-3, Rioghan Meehan 0-2, 0-1 free, Leo Monteiro 0-1, Josh Megoran 0-1.
St Paul’s : Ryan Hughes 1-0, Seamus Loughran 0-2 frees, Niall Quinn 0-2, Jack Cunningham 0-2, Oran Kearins 0-1 free, Ryan Connolly 0-1