Omagh make no mistake in MacRory replay
Omagh CBS 5-9 St Patrick’s Armagh 2-10
From Kevin Kelly in the Athletic Grounds
Omagh’s ability to get goals at crucial stages helped propel them to the final of the Danske Bank MacRory Cup final as they got the better of a gallant St Patrick’s Armagh side at the Athletic Grounds last night.
Armagh had led at halftime in the abandoned game on Wednesday night but this time around it was totally different with the twin threat of Simon Garrity and Mark Hayes bagging the winners’ goals between them on a night when all but one point of their tally came from play.
The winners led 3-4 to 0-6 at half-time and they comfortably kept their opponents at arms’ length in the second half, Michael Conroy converting two penalties for Armagh in the closing stages when the game was already beyond their reach.
St Patrick’s Armagh began brightly with points from Michael Conroy and Justin Kieran before Aodhan McConnell opened Omagh’s account in the 11th minute. In the next attack Anton Fox burst through the Armagh defence before offloading to Simon Garrity who finished in style low to the bottom right hand of the net past keeper Jack Gibney.
Three minutes later and it was another expert low finish from Garrity this time in the opposite corner after good work from Rory Kennedy and Daniel Fullerton. Armagh re-grouped though with Conroy, Kieran and midfielder Conor Lavery all landing points as they cut the gap to two.
In the 22nd minute Armagh almost got in for a goal when a brilliant run from Conroy saw him go past three challenges but his shot was superbly saved by keeper Oran Grimes.
Omagh CBS midfielder Liam Gray then got a much needed point for his side but Conroy responded from a placed ball. The Tyrone lads soaked up the pressure and full forward Mark Hayes, who hadn’t touched the ball prior to that, chipped it up brilliantly before firing low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Keeper Grimes made another fine save before Omagh CBS closed the half out with points from Gray and Eoin Montgomery to leave them in a strong position.
Oisin Hughes and Fullerton traded points on the re-start before a Conroy free narrowed the gap slightly. It was game over though in the 43rd minute when Hayes burst through to fire home via the bar.
Fullerton and Gray tagged on points as did wing half back Tom Donaghy. With a minute of normal time to go Conroy converted a penalty but in the next attack Hayes completed his hat trick. Conroy had the final say from a spot kick after he had been fouled himself but its Omagh CBS who will play St Michael’s Enniskillen in the final on March 18th.
Omagh CBS: O Grimes, C McBride, A Fox, R Hollywood, T Donaghy (0-1), L McBride, R Kennedy, L Gray (0-3), A Montgomery, S Garrity (2-0), D Fullerton (0-2, 2F), E Montgomery (0-1), R Donnelly, M Hayes (3-0), A McConnell (0-1).
Subs: B Conway for Donnelly, S McDonagh (0-1) for Garrity, C Daly for Fullerton
St Patrick’s Armagh: J Gibney, O Conatty (0-1), O McKeagney, A Harney, S Quigley, O Hughes (0-1), N Boyle, M McGleenan (0-1), C Lavery, D Horsfield (0-1), M Conroy (2-4, 3F, 2-0 pens), T Weir, R Bradley, J Kieran (0-2), L Coulter.
Subs: R McDonald for Bradley, M McKeever for Coulter, C Power for Boyle, C McParland for Lavery, O Guy for Quigley
Referee: S Laverty, Antrim
