Masita Hogan Cup Final: Omagh CBS 3-14 Mercy Mounthawk Tralee 0-11
After seeing his side come good in the second-half to retain their title, Omagh CBS manager Diarmaid McNulty described holding on to the top prize in All-Ireland Schools Football as a ‘absolutely sweet’.
“People kept saying sure you have six boys from last year, but we had so many new faces, and for them to experience that, and to perform that well, particularly in the second half when their backs were against the wall a wee bit, I can’t even put it into words,” he said.
“We have real, real leaders in the group, none more so than Callum (Daly) at six. I thought he was exceptional. Charlie (Donnelly) and Eoin Donaghy in the middle of the field is probably the best midfield in the country at that age.
“Then you have the spine, Ruairi (McCullagh) was off, but Liam Óg (Mossey) and Niall McCarney stepped up well, and Paudi Dillon took his goal really well.
“We’ve a lot of leaders across the pitch, and I suppose I forgot Brian Gallagher and Nathan Farry. Paddy Lane is their (Mounthawk) go-to man, and he only scored one from play, so that’s a testament to Brian Gallagher’s ability to man-mark.”
It was a different feeling for Mercy Mounthawk manager Aidan O’Shea at the other end of the corridor as the son of legendary Kerry midfielder Jack O’Shea acknowledged the quality of the Omagh performance in the second period.
“They’re a team that’s a nightmare if you go behind against them, because they’re so well drilled and so solid back there,” O’Shea said.
“You’re trying to get a score, and you’re trying to press on the kick-out, we had chances at times to chip away at the scoreboard, but we didn’t take them,” he said.
“It’s no fault on any of the lads whatsoever. The boys tried their best, but some days, it’s just not your day, and we were definitely second best today.”
Omagh did trail twice during the first-half but they survived a black card period for Ruairí McCullagh either side of half-time that allowed them to really take control of proceedings in the third quarter.
They would lead by 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time before registering 1-2 without reply in the first 10 minutes of the second-half that totally turned proceedings their way.
Their first two goals were gifts in one respect. Paudi Dillon bounced after a ball slipped through Mounthawk defender James Fisher’s hands in putting them 1-9 to 0-6 ahead in the 40th minute.
The Tralee school appeared to have dealt with a big moment of danger five minutes later when a shot dangerously came back down off the post and Dillon was denied a second goal by the outrushing Mounthawk goalkeeper Michael Tansley.
However, Padraig O’Halloran’s subsequent clearance went straight to McCullagh whose finish made it 2-9 to 0-7 and pretty much game over.
McCullagh grabbed a second goal for himself with five minutes to go as 12 points was the final margin between the sides, Omagh CBS goalkeeper Oisin Watson denying Mounthawk’s Thomas Kennedy the chance to score a consolation goal for the Kerry school near the end.
Charlie Donnelly’s performance at midfield was an absolute revelation for the victors with his five-point total seeing him awarded Man-of-the-Match afterwards.
The win meant it was Omagh’s third Hogan Cup title overall as they became the first Ulster school since St Colman’s, Newry in 2010 and 2011 to retain both MacRory and Hogan Cup titles back-to-back.
Diarmaid McNulty has been involved in all three Hogan Cup wins for Omagh CBS now, as he was a player back in 2007 when they defeated another Tralee school in Tralee CBS, The Green.
Omagh CBS: O Watson; B Lynch, B Gallagher, S McGann; N Farry, C Daly, M Corcoran; E Donaghy (0-2), C Donnelly (0-5); O Teague, R McCullagh (2-2, 0-1 mark), J Law; N McCarney, P Dillon (1-3, 0-1 mark), L Óg Mossey (0-2 frees)
Subs: J Edgar for O Teague (54), M Howe for P Dillon (59), A McGurn for N McCarney (60 +1)
Mercy Mounthawk: M Tansley; G O’Riordan, O McGibney, J Fisher; P O’Halloran, O Murphy, B Murphy; D Kirby, C O’Gara; N Collins (0-1), O Ferris (0-2), S Corkery (0-1); P Lane (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 mark), T Kennedy (0-1, 1m), N Townsend Subs: K Sheehan for N Townsend (50), B Sharp for J Fisher, J Hoare for C O’Gara (both 55), T O’Sullivan for S Corkery, B Byrne for P O’Halloran (both 60)
Referee: D Gough (Meath)
