Armagh shock Omagh in MacRory

St Patrick’s Armagh 1-3 Omagh CBS 0-5

A fortuitous goal in the early moments of the second half proved to be the vital score as St Patrick’s Armagh upset the odds to knock favourites Omagh CBS tumbling out of the Danske Bank MacRory Cup.

Centre half forward Ryan Bradley got the defining score in the game two minutes into the second half when a tame looking shot into the wind deceived Omagh CBS keeper Oran Grimes and ended up in the back of the net.

The winners failed to score for the last 23 minutes of the game but they still did enough to book a last four clash with St Colman’s Newry.

It was a contest that was played in atrocious weather conditions in Fintona with both sets of players worthy of praise for the commitment and endeavour that they put in.

The Tyrone school failed to score in the first half but after having played against a strong wind in the first half they would have been happy to be only two points adrift. That goal though left them with a lot of work to do but they had their chances kicking an alarming 15 wides over the course of the game.
Armagh though fully deserved their victory as they played smart football once they had gained that cushion. In defence Lennox Camarra was outstanding as was Sean Quigley against a much vaunted Omagh attack.
In the middle of the field the winners had the man of the match in Michael McGleenan who put in a Trojan effort from start to finish. In trying conditions the big Eglish clubman thrived winning crucial ball and playing it off to his teammates.

It was McGleenan who got the game’s only two scores in the first half but what points they were with one coming from 50 metres out and the other from five metres further. Omagh were content to retain possession during that opening period and rarely threatened the Armagh goals.

Half-time substitute Mark Hayes made an immediate impact when opening Omagh’s account inside 60 seconds but moments later came that vital goal which gave Armagh more self-belief.

Having hit two peaches from play in the first half McGleenan arguably then landed the score of the game, a terrific 40 metre free into the wind in the 37th minute and suddenly the gap was five.

That proved to be the winners’ last score of the game but it was a significant one. Ciaran Daly converted a free for Omagh and added a fine effort from play in the 48th minute. In the next attack Omagh almost got a goal when Hayes got on the end of a long delivery from Eoin Montgomery but his flicked effort hit the bar on its way over.

Only two points now separated the sides but the wides were beginning to mount up for Omagh as they took the wrong option on a few occasions while the likes of McGleenan and Camara continued to win dirty ball for their side to relieve the pressure.

Armagh lost goal scorer Bradley to a black card as the contest slipped into injury time with MacCormack Cup winners Omagh still in with a chance of rescuing themselves. Daniel Fullerton closed the gap to the minimum but there wasn’t time to find an equaliser as St Patrick’s Armagh deservedly advanced to the semi-finals.

St Patrick’s Armagh: C McKee, O Guy, L Camarra, A Harney, S Quigley, C Toner, L McKenna, S Donaghy, K McCann, O Conatty, R Bradley (1-0), J Walsh, M McKeever, M McGleenan (0-3, 1F), J Hughes.
Subs: M Lennon for Walsh, K Robinson for McKeever, J Walsh for Hughes, M McKeever for Guy

Omagh CBS: O Grimes, R Burns, E Curry, M Devlin, F Taggart, R Donnelly, E McShane, B Conway, E Montgomery, C McGillion, C Daly (0-2, 1F), S O’Donnell, R Maguire, P McGlinn, D Fullerton (0-1, F).
Sub: M Hayes (0-2) for Maguire

Referee: M McNally, Monaghan