Donaghmore stages comeback in MacRory

Danske Bank MacRory Cup Section B, round five

Cathair Dhoire 1-6 St Joseph’s, Donaghmore 0-9

St Joseph’s, Donaghmore staged a dramatic comeback to grab a share off the spoils for a result that was enough to book the final last-16 spot in this season’s Danske Bank MacRory Cup and send newcomers Cathair Dhoire crashing out of the competition.

This was a winner-takes-all clash at Celtic Park yesterday evening between two sides who went into the game with nothing to show for their efforts and it looked as though the hosts were going to prevail.

Cathair Dhoire were three points in front and a man to the good after Donaghmore had lost Larry Shields to a black card in the 54th minute, but St Joseph’s rallied to hit the last three scores of the game, with substitute Darragh Devlin proving to be the hero with two of them.

It means that last season’s semi-finalists advance as their scoring difference was just one better than that of their opponents.

Despite playing against the wind, Cathair Dhoire made a dream start when the opening score was a goal from Oran Donnelly.

Tiernan McFeely then tagged on a point but that proved to be their last score of the half.

It took St Joseph’s until the 13th minute to open their account, from an Eoghan O’Neill free, and Conal Quinn and Darragh Donaghy tagged on points to leave them one adrift at the break, 1-1 to 0-3.

With the wind at their backs, the Derry lads landed four out of the first five points in the second half through Caoimhin Wray (2), Cathal Deery and Jude Bryson and they looked to be in complete control.

A Donaghy free and one from play from Marty Coyle reduced the deficit but then Shields was black-carded and Deery converted a free.

St Josephs now had it all to do but they refused to accept defeat, with Charlie McNulty and Devlin closing the gap to the minimum before the latter got the priceless equaliser with just a minute left on the clock.

By Séamas McAleenan and Kevin Kelly Published in The Irish News December 05, 2024