Football

St Ronan’s come good in second half

Danske Bank MacRory Cup Group B: St Ronan’s, Lurgan 1-13 St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon 2-5

DESPITE there being no obvious wind factor, St Patrick’s Academy couldn’t maintain this first half progress in this Danske Bank MacRory Cup tie in Clonmore, failing to raise a flag at all after the break, and limping to a four point defeat.

In contrast, they competed well before the break and actually led by 2-5 to 0-4 at the turnover.

Mark Donnelly scored the opening goal in the 17th minute, getting a second bite of the cherry after a defender got a touch when Donnelly was put through one-onone with the goalie.

The second goal came from a good Dungannon move with Matthew Mackle finishing well.

Indeed there could have been more goals in that opening period as both sides carved out reasonably good chances.

St Ronan’s looked to have more urgency about them after the break and Tiarnan Kelly scored his fourth point inside a minute and three minutes later half-back Adam Loughran cut in from the left to claim Lurgan’s goal.

Points followed from Conor Turbett, Kelly and Loughran to level the game by the three-quarter stage and they added another five to take the points and move level with Abbey CBS at the top of Group B with two wins each.