Lenihan goal turns tide for Donegal lads as Magherafelt swept away
A STORMING second half from Abbey Vocational School saw them book the first spot in the semi-final last night in Convoy. Last year’s beaten finalists – with 14 Four Masters players in their starting line-up – were three points down early on and at half-time but a goal from star man Thomas Lenihan changed the game. His rasper to the roof of the net levelled matters before another key moment, a brilliant Lewis McCaughan save.
The towering McCaughan then stroked over back-to-back two-point frees and Abbey were 1-8 to 0-7 ahead going into the final quarter. St Mary’s, Magherafelt hit a late penalty from Shea McCann, but it mattered little after 16 scoreless minutes. The visitors were the sharpest out of the blocks with Peter Coleman, who started on Conor Gallagher-McCahill, raced forward to kick a point in the opening seconds.
Ronan Birt then dropped over a two-pointer as Magherafelt looked in control, spearheaded by the constant incisive running of Lorcan Higgins. Magherafelt had Cohen Cassidy dropping as an extra defender. Their midfield dominance, combined by always having a man watching Gallagher-McCahill, left them in the driving seat.
Lenihan and Eoghan Gallagher kept a wasteful Abbey in touch before Tony O’Hagan and Lorcan Higgins added points for a Magherafelt 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead. Abbey brought in Alan McHugh at half-time and Tomás Carr began to exert a greater influence at midfield.
There was more of a pep in Abbey’s step and the temperature changed in the 35th minute on a nippy night in Donegal. Aidan Quinn came onto the ball before the tasty Lenigan joined the play and his shot cracked off the underside of the bar. Magherafelt missed a chance at the other end before Cohen Cassidy started a move for their goal chance but McCaughan’s frame closed the door. Gallagher-McCahill put Abbey ahead for the first time in the 38th minute before Magherafelt were level with an O’Hagan score.
Fionn Gillespie added to the Abbey punch when he came in off the bench, with all their impact men getting on the ball. When McCaughan converted his two-pointers, Magherafelt were going to need a strong comeback but Abbey’s heads up football – led by Carr – kept them on the front foot and into a seven-point lead. When Magherafelt bagged their goal, it was Lorcan Higgins who used his pace before he was fouled but McCann’s cracking finish was a mere consolation.
Abbey will now play the winners of St Patrick’s, Dungannon and Our Lady’s, Castleblayney in the semi-finals.
SCORERS
St Mary’s, Magherafelt S McCann 1-0 pen, R Birt (tp), T O’Hagan 0-2 each,
P Coleman, L Higgins and M Lennon 0-1each
Abbey VS, Donegal T Lenihan 1-5 (tp, 2f), L McCaughan 0-4 (2tpf), C Gallagher McCahill 0-2 (1f), C Gavigan and
E Gallagher 0-1 each
by MICHAEL MCMULLAN IN CONVOY Published in The Irish News 10 January 2026
