St Colman's win MacRory Cup

[Bainisteoir]

Well done to St Colman's who defeated Omagh CBS in today's MacRory Cup and St Michael's Lurgan who won MacLarnon Cup by defeating St Patricks Keady.

St Colman's Newry clinched the BT MacRory Cup title for the 18th time as they deservedly beat Omagh CBS 1-14 to 1-8 in the decider at Casement Park.

Ronan O'Neill's goal put Omagh 1-1 to 0-3 ahead but Colman's fought back to lead 0-6 to 1-1 at the break.

Caolan Murphy netted shortly after half-time to put Colman's four ahead although Omagh responded with three points to cut the lead to only one.

However, Colman's bossed the closing stages to pull clear.

St Colman's Niall McParland hit the opening point of the game before Omagh's star man Ronan O'Neill levelled.

O'Neill then had a couple of chances to put Omagh ahead but was off target.

Colman's edged into a two-point lead after scores by Jerome Johnston and Chris Clarke but Omagh hit back thanks to O'Neill's superb goal in the 16th minute.

A quick free was delivered into O'Neill and after skinning Paul Hillen, he cut inside before delivering an unstoppable shot to the net.

Playing with the first-half breeze, matters were not going to plan for Colman's but they responded by dominating the remainder of the opening period. Two Jerome Johnston scores and another point from his brother Ryan left Colman's two ahead at the interval (0-6 to 1-1).

In truth, Colman's should have been further ahead at the break as they had fired nine first-half wides.

Colman's looked to have struck a potentially decisive blow two minutes into the second half when Caolan Mooney fired in a great individual goal to put his team five ahead.

However, Omagh were far from finished as John McCullagh, Stefan Tierney and influential substitute Ryan Lynch responded with scores in a six-minute period.

Niall McParland's point increased Colman's lead to three by the 42nd minute but scores from Lynch and Conor Clarke left the minimum between the teams with 16 minutes remaining.

However, Colman's were refusing to buckle and points from Mooney and Chris Clarke left three between the teams ahead by the 47th minute.

The gap was cut to two on 49 minutes as Lynch fired over his third point since his introduction but Ryan Johnston quickly replied with another Colman's score.

Omagh refused to give up and the impressive Thomas Canavan ran downfield to fire over another point.

Substitute Shay McCartan, soon to begin a soccer career at Burnley, then created a Colman's goal chance for himself with a sensational run but after doing the hard work, he fired inches wide.

However, Colman's were finishing the stronger and points from Jerome Johnston, goalscorer Mooney and Colm Stevenson left them five ahead (1-13 to 1-8) with two minutes left.

Jerome Johnston added a further glorious score in injury-time, courtesy of the outside of his left boot as Colman's 11-year wait for the school's 18th MacRory title ended.

St Michael's Lurgan clinched the MacLarnon Cup title as they defeated St Patrick's Keady 1-13 to 0-8 in the curtain-raiser at Casement.

The Lurgan school led 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time and Thomas McAlinden's goal just after the restart put them in firm control.

Niall McConville, Christopher McCaughey and Barry Seeley were also among the St Michael's scorers.

[Joe90]

I noted in the commentary yesterday that both Mark Sidebottom and Martin Clarke were euligising about the great Down school that Colman's are and I appreciate that many Down greats have attended the school and played for the college but I would suspect however that many Armagh players have made a contribution to Colmans successes in the past and would guess that they draw a considerable percentage of their pupils from the Armagh side..... The school site itself must run close to actually being in Armagh....

[AFS]

I noted in the commentary yesterday that both Mark Sidebottom and Martin Clarke were euligising about the great Down school that Colman's are and I appreciate that many Down greats have attended the school and played for the college but I would suspect however that many Armagh players have made a contribution to Colmans successes in the past and would guess that they draw a considerable percentage of their pupils from the Armagh side..... The school site itself must run close to actually being in Armagh....

It is in Armagh

[WcrossJames]

Good to see big Gough getting man of the match today should be a good midfield with carragher in the minors this year

[Begbie]

It is in Armagh

Indeed it is AFS. I went there myself for 7 years and boarded for 4 of them. Delighted to see them win yesterday. One of the greatest footballing schools in Ireland. I think thats 18 they've won and 6 Hogans. Not too many schools can match that. They're the most successful school in Ulster and the 2nd most successful in Ireland.

[fitzroyalty]

Great to see after the drought; far too long for a school like the College. Hopefully go on to win the Hogan now! It might be on the Armagh side of Newry but it's 100% Down school and anyone who went will tell you that...however, they wouldn't have one trophy if they didn't have the help of their good neighbours!

[Begbie]

Great to see after the drought; far too long for a school like the College. Hopefully go on to win the Hogan now! It might be on the Armagh side of Newry but it's 100% Down school and anyone who went will tell you that...however, they wouldn't have one trophy if they didn't have the help of their good neighbours!

100% Down School?

Diarmard Marsden
Paul McGrane
Jarlarh Burns
Benny Tierney
Neil Smyth

Fitzroyalty you are talking shite.

[AFS]

Facile win today in the Hogan semi final.

St Colmans Newry (Armagh ) 2-15
St Gerald's Castlebar (Mayo) 1-8

Play St. Brendan's Killarney in the final in a fortnight.

[ARMAGH GAA]

Any word on who played well?
St Micks lurgan win?

[fitzroyalty]

100% Down School?

Diarmard Marsden
Paul McGrane
Jarlarh Burns
Benny Tierney
Neil Smyth

Fitzroyalty you are talking shite.

How exactly am I talking shite, historically the place has always been regarded as a Down school plain and simple. Just because it has a sizeable enough intake from Armagh doesn't change that fact...

Another fine win today and best of luck in the final. I heard St Michael's were beat AET.