Danske Bank MacRory Cup semi-final
Omagh CBS v St Mary’s, Magherafelt (tonight, Coalisland, 7.30pm)
ST Mary’s, Magherafelt will be out to prevent a second successive all-Tyrone MacRory final when they lock horns with holders Omagh CBS this evening.
It’s a contest that has all the ingredients of being a cracker and it’s difficult to know who carries the favourites’ tag. Omagh are the only side in the competition yet to taste defeat but St Mary’ss have already taken the scalp of title favourites St Pat’s, Maghera.
Omagh have looked impressive at times this year and in captain Callum Daly, Ruairi McCullagh, Charlie Donnelly, Nathan Farry, Eoghan Donaghy and Liam Og Mossey they have six starters from their Hogan Cup winning side of 2023.
They are, once again, under the watchful eye of Diarmaid McNulty and it has been a case of so far so good. They won all three group games to top their section before being involved in a cracking quarter final with Our Lady’s, Castleblaney.
They held an eight-point advantage early in the second half but their Monaghan opponents staged a brilliant comeback and the holders were relieved to hear the final whistle as it finished 1-14 to 3-7.
McCullagh hit 1-6 in that game and he is one player that St Mary’s will have to keep a close eye on.
Magherafelt finished runners-up in their group and that meant a play off against St Pat’s, Cavan, which they came through with the minimum of fuss despite playing 40 minutes with only 14 men. Conall Higgins and Pearse O’Neill contributed 0-9 between them.
Last day out, they faced a derby against St Pat’s, Maghera. In what was always going to be a tense affair, St Mary’s edged home by 1-6 to 1-4 for a victory that will have done wonders for confidence. They will rightly feel that they can topple the holders.
They are just as experienced as their opponents, with a number of Derry’s All-Ireland minor winning side of last season within their ranks.
Apart from the scoring threat of Higgins and O’Neill they have good players throughout their side such as Rory Small, Ben McLarnon, James Sargent and Cathair McBride.
The midfield battle between Sargent/McBride and Donaghy/Donnelly could well prove pivotal with Omagh getting a hesitant nod.