O’Rourke shines as Abbey get back on track
November 26, 2025
Abbey sides double up
O’Rourke shines as CBS get back on track with comfortable victory
Danske Bank MacRory GROUP B
St Paul’s, Bessbrook 0-6
Abbey CBS 2-18
Abbey CBS bounced back from defeat last week in Omagh to register a very comfortable derby victory over St Paul’s, Bessbrook in Carrickcruppen yesterday afternoon.
After an indifferent first-half added time from Dan McKernan really shut the door on any chance of a Bessbrook comeback in the second half; Abbey led 1-12 to 0-4 at the break.
In reality, though, St Paul’s were chasing the game from early on, with Diarmuid O’Rourke landing a two-pointer for the opening score and Charlie McGrath and Jack O’Mahoney following up with points.
Eventually, Shea Loughran opened Bessbrook’s account in the seventh minute, but by the time C. McKeown hit their second score some minutes later, Abbey were on nine points with McKernan, O’Rourke and Mícheál O’Neill all on target.
Mooney claimed another score for St Paul’s but McKernan’s goal right on the half-time whistle left Abbey very comfortable leaders.
Bessbrook worked harder in the second half and restricted the Abbey well but the Abbey goalkeeper Rian McKevitt was excellent, but he couldn’t prevent Charlie McGrath’s goal in the 53rd minute, while C. McKeown’s best-by-bye subs picked off points.
SCORERS
St Paul’s
C Mooney 3, S Loughran 0-2 each; S Herris & R McArtan 0-1 each
Abbey CBS
D O’Rourke 0-8 (2f); D McKernan 1-3; C McGrath 1-2; K McEntee, J O’Mahoney 0-1 each; M O’Neill, F Toale, D Carr 0-1 each
By Séamus McAleenan published in The Irish News 26th November 2025
