Football

MacRory Cup: St Ronan’s up against it for another shock

Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-final: St Colman’s, Newry v St Ronan’s, Lurgan (tonight, Queen’s Arena, 7pm) 

THEIR 3-4 to 1-4 win over St Macartan’s, Monaghan 10 days ago proved to be the shock result of the MacRory Cup play-offs and St Ronan’s, Lurgan will hope for more of the same when they face St Colman’s, Newry in the quarter-final tonight on the Queen’s Arena pitch.

The Lurgan boys did it the hard way too – conceding a goal in the opening minute to Monaghan. However, their defence was rock-solid thereafter and gradually they worked their way back into a winning position.

It certainly has made other teams take a second look at the team that had picked up just one win in the league – beating Abbey CBS 0-7 to 0-6 in a fairly drab affair.

None of their league games produced decent scorelines for the Lurgan team, indeed their 1-10 to 2-14 defeat to the other Newry side, St Colman’s, was the highest total they recorded.

St Colman’s boss Cathal Murray has always played down pre-Christmas form by stating that no MacRory Cup has ever been lifted before the Christmas break. Nevertheless, he can be happy enough with the form the College boys have shown in the league.

They won the first four games handily enough to qualify for the MacCormack Cup final. They lost to both the Tyrone schools in the last two games, however.

Against Omagh in the league, there was little at stake for Murray’s team. He opted for a very experimental line-out, and Omagh took full advantage.

There was more, of course, in the MacCormack final. However they allowed the Academy a dream opening half, but almost pegged them back in the second.

There is a good nucleus to the team with good defenders like Owen Donnelly, Conal Gordon and Nicky Murray at the back.

Team captain Charlie Carr and Frank Aiken have struck up a strong partnership at midfield, while the two south Armagh forwards, Rian O’Neill and Eoghan McDonnell, are very dangerous in attack.


St Ronan’s don’t look to have that quality of player at their disposal, but they made up for it last time out with sheer hard work.

Colleges’ Allstar Barry McCambridge is one of the best defenders around and Jack Lenehan and Conor McConville will have a grand tussle with Aiken and Carr at midfield.

Trouble is that Lurgan depend on McConville to weigh in with points as well and that may be difficult for him. Remember just seven scores were enough for them to win against Abbey and Monaghan.


If St Ronan’s can keep it as tight at the back as they did against those teams, they will be in with a chance.

But St Colman’s are a lot better than either of those opponents and it will take more than seven scores to knock them off their stride.