Danske Bank MacRory Cup semi-final: Omagh CBS 0-11 Patrician High, Carrickmacross 0-10
Omagh CBS set up a first all Tyrone Danske Bank MacRory Cup Final since 2009 when Conor Owens fired over an injury time winner as they overcame the stiff challenge of Patrician High Carrickmacross at the Monaghan Harps ground on Saturday afternoon.
Omagh went into the game as favourites but they were taken to the pin of their collars by a Carrickmacross side who led by three points after the 36th minute. The Monaghan lads failed to score after that though as Omagh levelled by the 43rd minute before Owens ended a barren spell with the winner.
Charlie Donnelly opened the scoring for Omagh but with a dozen minutes played it was Carrickmacross who led 0-3 to 0-1 thanks to points from Cian Duffy, James Maguire and Matthew Carolan.
A brace each from Ruairi McCullagh and Owens saw the lead change hands again but it was Carrickmacross who responded to take a narrow 0-7 to 0-6 advantage to the changing rooms thanks to Maguire and centre half back Packie Doogan. Indeed the Monaghan lads almost snatched an injury time goal but Maguire was denied by the outstretched leg of keeper Conor McAneney.
Maguire and Dualta Honney kicked early points for Carrickmacross before wing half back Tomas Haigney landed a beauty for Omagh. Carrickmacross though were giving as good as they got and Doogan put them 0-10 to 0-7 in front.
Omagh though then enjoyed a productive seven minute spell that yielded points from McCullagh, Eoin McElholm and Owens to leave it all square. Omagh were on top in terms of possession but they struggled to break down a resolute Carrickmacross defence although they did have a great goal chance in the 50th minute when Owens offloaded to McCullagh but his palmed effort crashed off the bar.
The winners piled on the pressure but three wides in a row looked as though it was going to prove costly until full forward Owens took a pass from McCullagh to kick a superb score from distance and send them through to a final with Holy Trinity Cookstown.
Omagh CBS scorers: C Owens (0-4, 0-1 free), R McCullagh (0-3, 0-1 free), C Donnelly (0-1), L McCullagh (0-1), T Haigney (0-1), E McElholm (0-1)
Carrickmacross scorers: J Maguire (0-4, 0-2 frees), P Doogan (0-2), C Duffy (0-1), M Carolan (0-1), D Mee (0-1), D Honney (0-1)
Referee: P Faloon (Down)
