“Dungannon lads secure home advantage”

Danske Bank MacRory Cup 
St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon  1-20
Cathair Dhoire 0-5

St Patrick’s Academy confirmed top position in Group C of the Danske Bank MacRory Cup, following a comfortable victory over Cathair Dhoire in Stewartstown yesterday evening.

The Academy made a lightning start to the contest, kicking five points in as many minutes.

The Tyrone side were in control of midfield and an early supply of ball allowed Charlie Maguire, Darragh Devlin, Liam McGeary and Eoin Long all to split the posts.

Michael Higgins found his range to extend the lead before Long forced Charlie Green to produce an excellent save low to his right after he had combined with McGeary.

The Derry lads began to settle into the game with Liam Meenan, Oran Donnelly and, in particular, Chris McCullagh leading the charge, but they were guilty of several wides.

A second Eoin Long point saw the lead grow to seven at the end of the opening quarter.

A flowing move saw Dungannon prise through the Derry rearguard, McGeary deciding to punch over the bar.

A well-struck 18th minute free from Meenan got Cathair Dhoire on the scoresheet, Oran Donnelly fizzed a ball high across the square but no one in a red jersey could get a touch.

A typical driving run from James Mulgrew brought the scoring in the opening half to a close with St Patrick’s leading 0-9 to 0-1.

Cathair Dhoire stayed in the changing rooms a bit longer and it seemed to pay dividends with a sweetly-struck effort from Meenan raised an orange flag in the initial attack of the half.

Long and Meenan swapped scores before Dungannon once again regained the initiative.

A brace of points from Darragh Devlin, a Long free and a further point from Charlie Maguire left 10 between them with 20 minutes remaining.

The game’s only goal arrived in the 43rd minute, Aodhan Quinn secured the kick-out before feeding McGeary, his perfectly struck inswinger from the 45, was toe-poked past Green with Devlin applying the finishing touch at the back post.

Meenan picked up a needless black card minutes later as Dungannon used the opportunity to add fresh legs.

Captain Davin McKeown curled a point, before Michael Higgins made local knowledge count with a well-struck two-pointer.

Jonah Feeney got on the scoresheet before a fourth of the evening from Maguire, brought proceedings to a close.

Both sides qualify for the last 16 play-off round next week, Cathair Dhoire securing their spot by virtue of an earlier victory over St Macartan’s. The Academy remain unbeaten and have a home game, while the Derry lads will head to Donegal.

SCORERS 

St Patrick’s Academy (Dungannon): D Devlin 1-3, E Long 0-5 (2f), C Maguire 0-4, M Higgins 0-3 (1x2pt), L McGeary 0-2, J Mulgrew, D McKeown, J Feeney 0-1 each.
Cathair Dhoire: L Meenan 0-5 (1x2pt, 3f).

By KEVIN KELLY published in The Irish News
Photo by Team Talk Mag