Danske Bank MacRory Cup: Omagh CBS v St Patrick’s, Cavan (Saturday, Maguiresbridge, 11am); St Colman’s, Newry v Patrician High, Carrickmacross (Saturday, Haggardstown, 11am)
OF THE four teams in MacRory Cup action on Saturday, only 2015 champions St Patrick’s, Cavan have yet to kick a ball in this year’s competition.
Their opponents in Maguiresbridge, Omagh CBS, not only have had the benefit of an outing but also have boosted their confidence with a good victory last Monday over St Colman’s Newry. They had fine performances from a number of players, including captain Peter Óg McCartan, Ryan McCusker and full-back Eoin Byrne.
Cavan will feature some emerging talent like Gary O’Rourke and Cormac Timoney alongside Darragh Kennedy and Paddy O Reilly who have been two years on the county minor team. They have been competitive enough at Rannafast Cup level over the past couple of seasons and should put it up to Omagh.
The teams in Haggardstown, Patrician Carrickmacross and St Colman’s Newry, had contrasting opening games. St Colman’s lost on Monday against Omagh CBS. They were definitely a bit flat at times but there were still some plusses for Cathal Murray and his management team, notably the performance of the midfield partnership of Oisin O’Neill and Thomas Travers.
Patrician fielded for the very first time at MacRory level last Saturday and played out a good draw with St Mary’s Magherafelt in a game that at one time looked to be slipping away from them. They will have found out a little about themselves from that game and will need to play more consistently over the hour to take something from Haggardstown.
St Colman’s, after their defeat on Monday, will be looking for a lot more from this game.
