Omagh CBS 1-14 St.Geralds Castlebar 0-9
Holders Omagh CBS have become the first Tyrone School to make it to back to back Hogan Cup finals following a comfortable eight point success over St Gerald’s Castlebar in Ballyshannon yesterday afternoon.
The key period in the game was in the last seven minutes of the first half when the winners hit 1-4 without reply to take a vice like grip on proceedings and they never looked back. Castlebar did hit the bar with a goal chance in first half injury time but apart from that they never looked like mounting a comeback.
The sides had shared the opening half a dozen points with Paudi Dillon and Charlie Donnelly on target for the holders with Dara Neary landing a trio of superb scores for St Gerald’s.
Donnelly and Eoin Donaghy began to get on top in midfield for Omagh with Brian Gallagher, Sean McCann, Nathan Farry and Callum Daly to the fore in their defence. Dillon had a quality point after cutting in from the left wing before defenders Mark Corcoran and Gallagher both registered as well.
In the 29th minute Omagh struck for their goal with a move that began with a brilliant block by McCann on Jack Prendergast. The ball was transferred to Corcoran who in turn found Dillon and the full forward cut inside his marker before smashing the ball to the roof of the net.
Castlebar were in trouble but in first half injury time they were unlucky not to find the net when Ryan Gibbons cut past two challenges before crashing the ball against the bar, Omagh coming straight down the field for Donnelly to score.
Leading 1-7 to 0-3 at the break it was just a matter of keeping their opponents at arms length in the second half and they did that with the minimum of fuss. Ruairi McCullagh, Liam Og Mossey and Dillon all tagged on third quarter points and while St Gerald’s responded through substitute Zac Collins the gap was now eight.
Farry hit a great score with Donnelly and Dillon both on target again with Ryan Gibbons and Gavin Forry responding for the Mayo lads. Dillon then took his personal haul to 1-4 and while Neary replied for Castlebar it was only academic, the Connacht Champions finishing with 14 men after defender Yousif Coghill picked up a second yellow card in the 57th minute.
Omagh CBS: O Watson, B Lynch, B Gallagher (0-1), S McCann, N Farry (0-1), C Daly, M Corcoran (0-1), Eoin Donaghy, C Donnelly (0-3, 1F), O Teague, R McCullagh (0-1, F) J Law, N McCarney, P Dillon (1-4), L Og Mossey (0-3, 3F). Subs: A McGurren for McCullagh, J Edgar for Teague, M Howe for McCarney, Enda Donaghy for Donnelly, S Broderick for Farry
St.Geralds: S Rabbette, Y Coghill, M O Clochartaigh, C Durcan, J Prendergast, F O Reilly, S O Reilly, S Cunningham, P Flannelly, J Forry, C Keaveney (0-1), D Neary (0-4), C Walsh, G Forry (0-1, F), R Gibbons (0-2, 2F). Subs: E Walsh for J Forry, Z Collins (0-1)for Prendergast, G Filan for Gibbons, C Geraghty for S O Reilly
Referee: E Murphy, Fermanagh