Academy Lose Opening MacRory Game
October 20, 2026
St. Patrick’s Academy Dungannon 2-9 St. Pats Armagh 1-13
Last season’s MacRory Cup Finalists St.Patrick’s Academy Dungannon got this campaign off to a disappointing start when they lost out to St.Pats Armagh at Pairc Chormaic in Eglish on Tuesday night.
The Academy trailed by nine points with just eleven minutes left to play and while they staged a late rally their efforts to take something from it just came up short in front of a large crowd. The winners led 0-10 to 0-4 at halftime and they were full value for that advantage with full forward Fiachra Maxwell landing a trio of points and Rory O’Donnell, Aodhan Gallagher and Brian Og McGuckin also on target. Colm Diver, Matthew Daly and Odhran Carroll (2) with the Dungannon points.
A Conor Taggart free closed the gap on the restyart before Armagh grabbed a 36th minute goal via Jack Gorman. Gallagher and Taggart exchanged points as did Rian Biggs and McGuckin before substitute Michael McCann left it 1-13 to 0-7 in the 49th minute. From there until the final whistle the Academy got on top with an attempt at a two pointer from Taggart sailing all the way to the Armagh net to give them a boost. Tadgh Feeney tagged on a point before Carroll palmed in a late goal but Armagh had just done enough to claim victory.
Dungannon scorers: C Taggart 1-3 (2f), O Carroll 1-2, C Diver, R Biggs, T Feeney & M Daly (f) 0-1 each
Armagh scorers: F Maxwell 0-4 (1x tp), J Gorman 1-1, A Gallagher 0-3 (2 x “45s”), B Og McGuckin 0-2, M Daly, M McCann & R O’Donnell (f) 0-1 each
From TeamTalkMag
St Patrick’s Armagh 1-13 St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon 2-9
St Patrick’s Armagh made a winning start to their MacRory Cup campaign with a win over St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon. The two sides locked horns in the opening round of the competition at Eglish on Tuesday evening.
Dungannon had reached the MacRory Cup final last season, but lost out to Abbey CBS. The two teams drew the first day out before the Newry school took the title for the first time in 20 years in the replay.
Armagh made a blistering start to proceedings as they raced into a 5-0 lead inside the opening quarter. Rory O’Donnell and Jack Gorman split the posts while Fiachra Maxwell nailed a two-pointer and a single.
Annaghmore’s Colm Diver opened Dungannon’s account on the 18 minute mark before Mathew Daly added a second. The sides continued to trade scores for the remainder of the half as Armagh marched into the break leading 0-10 to 0-4.
Armagh hit the net at the start of the second period through Pearse Og clubman Gorman. Daly’s effort has dropped short and Gorman was the quickest to react, spinning his marker and slotting home the game’s first major.
Aodhan Carson and Conor Taggert exchanged pointed efforts before Armagh stretched the difference to nine. Dungannon were then offered a huge lifeline when they raised a green flag of their own.
St Patrick’s Armagh made a winning start to their MacRory Cup campaign with a win over St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon.
Photo Credit: Maurice McKey
Like Armagh’s three-pointer, the Academy’s goal came from a shot that dropped dangerously short around the squad. The Armagh rearguard failed to deal with the ball and it ended up in the back of the net.
Tadhg Feeney narrowed the deficit with a score before a second Dungannon goal made it a one-point game, 1-13 to 2-9. That proved too be the final score of the night and Armagh held on to win by the minimum of margins.
It’s St Colman’s Newry up next for St Patrick’s Armagh in round two. Dungannon meet St Michael’s Enniskillen, who lost to St Patrick’s Cavan on Tuesday, in their next outing.
From thesidelineeye
