MacRory Cup semi-final: St Patrick's Dungannon 0-12 St Patrick's Cavan 1-8
ST Patrick’s, Dungannon gained some measure of revenge for last season’s final defeat when they edged past holders St Patrick’s, Cavan 0-12 to 1-8 in a contest that required extra-time to decide at Corduff on Saturday afternoon.
During extra-time only one point was scored, but it proved to be a priceless one with Cormac O’Hagan slotting over a free from the right wing midway through the second period.
It was a game where both sides gave it their all and that was reflected by the number of players who went down with cramp during the additional time.
The Academy were the better side early on as O’Hagan, Ryan Coleman and Tiarnan Teague supplied points for a 0-4 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
In the 19th minute, Cavan struck for a well-worked goal from Tomas Edward Donohoe before Mark Donnelly levelled matters. O’Hagan and Coleman converted frees either side of efforts from Keenan Donohoe and Conor Smith to leave it all square at the break, 0-7 to 1-4.
O’Hagan had the opening score of the second half from another placed ball before centre half-forward Daniel Kerr drilled over from play for a two point lead for the Academy. The Tyrone lads were on top at that stage, but they were dealt a blow in the 39th minute when they lost Paul Donaghy to a second yellow card.
A free from Tomas Edward Donohoe opened Cavan’s second half account, but Coleman responded with a fine score from play to leave two between the sides again going into the final quarter.
The Academy were looking good at this stage – especially when their opponents were reduced to 14 men as well after Oisin Pierson was straight red-carded four minutes after coming on.
Cavan regrouped, though, with Paul Leddy converting a free and, after the Academy lost Brian Kennedy to a second yellow, centre half-back Patrick O’Reilly landed an inspirational equaliser from distance.
With two minutes to go, Donohoe slotted over a free and it looked to be the winning score. But deep into injury-time, Coleman forced extra-time when he held his nerve to slot over following a foul on Kerr before O’Hagan won it for the Tyrone lads.
