Abbey’s late show takes win in Páirc Esler
Danske Bank MacRory Cup
Abbey CBS 1-10 St Paul’s Bessbrook 0-11
Going into the last five minutes of this Danske Bank MacRory Cup game in Páirc Esler yesterday afternoon, St Paul’s Bessbrook looked to have done enough to secure a win against Abbey CBS.
They had led for the duration of the second half after late first half points from Liam Kerr and Shea Loye edged them 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break after the teams had been level on five occasions.
Early points on the re-start from Kerr and Niall McGuiness pushed them on towards a 0-10 to 0-7 lead before Ruairí McCormick gave Abbey a glimmer of hope with a point in the 55th minute.
Two minutes later the game was turned on its head with Ronan Fegan finishing a 30 metres run by crashing home a goal. Fegan then added a superb free from the 45 metre line to put Abbey two up at 1-9 to 0-10.
With the play switching from side to side in the four minutes of added time, Bliain McGrath and Conor Clarke swopped points, but it was too later for Bessbrook, who will rue two misses from the otherwise excellent Liam Kerr around the three-quarter mark.
The first was a one-on-one with Abbey goalie Sean McLaughlin who stood up to the challenge and the second was a 25 metre free. A score from either would probably have sealed a Bessbrook victory.
Abbey : Ronan Fegan 1-6, 0-6 frees, Turlough Brady 0-1, Jason Sloan 0-1, Ruairi McCormick 0-1, Bliain McGrath 0-1
St Paul’s : Liam Kerr 0-4, Shea Loye 0-3, 0-1 free, Conor Clarke 0-2, Ronan McGuiness 0-1, Niall McGuiness 0-1.
Further Images in the MacRory Football Gallery – Click here
