St Ronan’s edge low-scoring MacRory tie
Danske Bank MacRory Cup
St Ronan’s College Lurgan 0-7 Abbey CBS 0-6
DESPITE not scoring until the 23rd minute of this Danske Bank MacRory Cup tie in Ballyholland, by which point they were five points in arrears, St Ronan’s College Lurgan managed to claim their first win of the competition with a spirited second half performance.
Indeed the north Armagh school held Abbey CBS scoreless for the duration of the second half and on balance deserved to claim victory.
However it didn’t look like that was going to happen for most of the first half, as they continually took the wrong option against a Newry defence operating a sweeper system.
Abbey pointed five times without reply, including the opening score, a free from Ronan Fegan, and later a 45 from goalie Jamie McEvoy.
Conor McConville, probably the most accomplished player on view, then opened St Ronan’s account and added another in reply to a sixth Abbey point from Blain McGrath to leave the score 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.
With the slight breeze on their backs during the second half, St Ronan’s pulled level with two points from Aodhan McConville, and one each from Ryan Owens and Conor McConville.
Shane Russell nudged the Lurgan side ahead in the 54th minute and they had a few chances to add to their total in the dying minutes, while keeping Abbey outside the shooting range.
St Ronan’s : Conor McConville 0-3, Aodhan McConville 0-2, Ryan Owens 0-1, Shane Russell 0-1.
Abbey CBS : Ronan Fegan 0-1 free, Callum O’Neil 0-1, Charlie Magill 0-1, Ronan Reel 0-1, Jamie McEvoy 0-1 free, Blain McGrath 0-1.
