Hogan Cup semi-final: Omagh CBS 4-14 Naas CBS 0-7
A blistering 14-minute spell either side of half-time effectively ended this game as a contest as an impressive Omagh CBS side ended the reign of holders Naas CBS in the Hogan Cup semi final at Clones on Saturday afternoon.
During that purple patch the Tyrone lads grabbed all four of their goals and there was no way back for their Kildare opponents. It was a far cry from the opening quarter as Naas were well in the game despite only scoring one point.
Ruairi McCullagh, Conor Owens and Nathan Farry had early points for the winners before Carl Lennox converted a Naas free. Omagh though were already showing signs of taking control as they attacked at pace and always took the right option when getting the best placed player on the ball. Charlie Donnelly lofted over a point before Caolan Donnelly slipped the ball inside for Ruairi McCullagh to fire low to the net in the 21st minute.
It was a pivotal score and when Owens followed that up with a quick brace the gap began to grow. Captain Eoin McElholm then sent Liam Og Mossey through for a 25th minute goal before Owens and Donnelly followed that up with points for a 2-10 to 0-1 interval lead.
Four minutes into the second half full forward Owens burst past three or four challenges to grab goal number three and the fourth major quickly followed from wing back Donnelly.
Naas responded with five of the next six points from Cian Boran, Ryan Sinkey (2), Lennox and midfielder Tom Kelly. Omagh though were already looked forward to the final and they closed the game out with points from Niall McCarney and McElholm. They will now play Summerhill College from Sligo in the final at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.
Omagh’s joint manager Pat McNabb was delighted with the way that his charges performed.
“In the second quarter we really blitzed them playing at pace and they never really recovered from that,” said McNabb.
“Once the first goal came the lads played with a lot more freedom and in the closing stages of the first half we got a lot of shots away and were able to build up a healthy lead. I was really delighted with the way that the lads went about their business today and we now have three weeks to prepare for the final with Summerhill. They will be tough opponents as we played them after Christmas and they beat us in a close encounter.”
Omagh CBS: C McAneney, N Farry (0-1), B McMenamin, S Kerr, C Donnelly (1-0), C Daly, T Haigney, E Donaghy, C Donnelly (0-2), C Watson, E McElholm (0-2), L McCullagh (0-1), R McCullagh (1-2, 0-1 free), C Owens (1-4, 0-1 free), L Og Mossey (1-1). Subs: N McCarney (0-1) for Watson, D McCallan for Kerr, C McConnell for Donaghy, C O’Hagan for Owens, B Gallagher for Donnelly
Naas CBS: F Quinn, N Cramer, C Murphy, C Boran (0-1), D Hamill, E Lawlor, E O’Briain, A Brennan, T Kelly (0-1), F McCarthy, C Lennox (0-2, 2F), D Gilmartin, S Kelly, C Barrett, R Sinkey (0-3). Subs: C O’Reilly for McCarthy, F Ryan for Gilmartin, J McGuirk for Hamill, A Maguire for O’Briain, E Gilmartin for Barrett
Referee: M Farrelly (Cavan)
