St. Michael’s 0-16 Omagh CBS 2-06

St. Michael’s College deservedly won the MacRory Cup for a seventh time with a superb display in Armagh to defeat Omagh CBS by a scoreline of 0-16 to 2-06.

The Enniskillen college were excellent throughout the game and led from start to finish, leading by eight points at the break and withstanding a fine Omagh fightback in the second half when the gap was narrowed to two points only to reassert their dominance and see the game out.

Man of the match Darragh McBrien was simply outstanding for St. Michael’s bagging eights points throughout the hour, six from play but he was not alone.

Josh Largo Elis, Brandon Horan and Micheal Glynn also impressed but all throughout the pitch, the St. Michael’s lads delivered on the day when it mattered most.

Glynn got the ball rolling when he picked up a shot from Conor Love that dropped short before Simon Garrity replied for Omagh after picking up a short free.

McBrien then started to take centre stage with two excellent points from play with the equally excellent Tom Keenan the provider for both scores.

Omagh dangerman Mark Hayes showed his class with a strong run down the left before fisting over from close range but it was St. Michael’s who were to take control of the game.

Glynn fired over a fine point with the outside of his left boot before he had a gilt edged chance to put St Michael’s in complete control when he was fouled in the box Antoin Fox after a super ball from Love.

However, Glynn slipped as he took the kick and the ball ballooned over the bar for a point at least.

Omagh hit their final score of the first half in the 16th minute Daniel Fullerton hit a fine 45m free.

Thereafter, however, the Enniskillen seat of learning dominated.

McBrien popped over a free after a foul on Keenan and he then produced a super run and point to make it 0-07 to 0-03 after 20 minutes.

Josh Largo Elis then broke forward from centre half back to point and McBrien with another super score made it 0-09 to 0-03. Importantly, St. Michael’s bagged two late points from Pol McKervey and Glynn to make it 0-11 to 0-03 at the break.

Omagh to their credit came out all guns firing in the second half, pushed up man to man and hit 1-03 without reply to get the game right back into the melting pot.

Sean McDonagh, Cormac McBride and a penalty from Fullerton reflected the Omagh ascendancy and when McDonagh added another play it was suddenly 0-11 to 1-06 midway through the second half.

St. Michael’s proved their superiority though and managed to gain a foothold again with captain Brandon Horan impressing with his high fielding and Largo Elis at the heart of all things good.  

Substitute Garvan Quigley pointed as did McBrien and Love to edge St. Michael’s back into a 0-14 to 1-06 lead.

When McBrien added his seventh of the game from a free it looked like game over but Omagh hit back with a cracking goal from McDonagh to make it 0-15 to 2-06 with five minutes on the clock.

Man of the match, McBrien was to have the final say with the final score of the game as St. Michael’s ran out very worthy winners by 0-16 to 2-06.

St. Michael’s College

Sean McNally, Luke Flanagan, Garett Cavanagh, Josh Horan, Aichlinn O’Cathain, Josh Largo Elis (0-01), Ronan McHugh, Brandon Horan, Joe McDade, Caolan Duffy, Micheal Glynn (0-04, 1f), Darragh McBrien (0-08, 2f), Pol McKervey (0-01), Conor Love (0-01), Tom Keenan

Garvan Quigley (0-01) for Keenan, Rian McGovern for McKervey,

Omagh CBS

Oran Grimes, Cormac McBride (0-01), Antoin Fox, Ronan Hollywood, Tom Donaghy, Lorcan McBride, Rory Kennedy, Liam Gray, Aaron Montgomery, Simon Garrirty (0-01), Daniel Fullerton (1-01, 1pen, 1 f) Eoin Montgomery, Rory Donnelly, Mark Hayes (0-01), Aodhan McConnell

Sean McDonagh (1-02) for Donnelly, Brian Conway for E. Montgomery