St Mary’s Magherafelt bow out of MacRory Cup

Abbey Donegal 1-13 ... St Mary's Magherafelt 1-07

St Mary’s Magherafelt bowed out of the MacRory Cup on Friday night in Donegal.

Despite leading by three points at half-time, Magherafelt were reeled in after the break and went 16 minutes without a score.

Abbey, last year’s beaten finalists, had 14 Four Masters players in their starting lineup

Magherafelt were 0-6 to 0-3 ahead at half-time with Lorcan Higgins their star man. His pace, balance, skill and footballing brain was making things happen.

A goal from man of the match Thomas Lenihan changed the game five minutes into the second half.

His rasper to the roof of the net levelled matters before another key moment, a brilliant Lewis McCaughan save when Magherafelt had a chance to take root in the game again.

The towering McCaughan then stroked over back-to-back two-point frees and Abbey were 1-8 to 0-7 ahead going into the final quarter.

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Abbey sealed a deserved victory by a final score of 2-15 to 0-12, failing to concede a score in the final 15 minutes of play

St Mary’s Magherafelt hit a late penalty from Shea McCann but it mattered little after 16 scoreless minutes.

The visitors were the sharpest out of the blocks with Peter Coleman, who started on Conor Gallagher McCahill, raced forward to kick a point in the opening seconds.

Ronan Birt then dropped over a two-pointer as Magherafelt looked in control, spearheaded by the constant incisive running of Lorcan Higgins.

Magherafelt had Cohen Cassidy dropping as an extra defender. Their midfield dominance, combined by always having a man watching Gallagher McCahill, left them in the driving seat.

Lenihan and Eoghan Gallagher kept a wasteful Abbey in touch before Tony O’Hagan and Lorcan Higgins added points for a Magherafelt 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead.

Abbey brought in Alan McHugh at half-time and Tomás Carr began to exert an influence at midfield.

There was more of a pep in Abbey’s step and the temperature changed in the 35th minute on a nippy night in Donegal.

Aidan Quinn came onto the ball before the tasty Lenigan joined the play and his shot cracked off the underside of the bar.

Magherafelt missed a chance at the other end before Cohen Cassidy started a move for their goal chance but McCaughan’s frame closed the door.

Gallagher McCahill put Abbey ahead for the first time in the 38th minute before Magherafelt were level with an O’Hagan score.

Fionn Gillespie added to the Abbey punch when he came in off the bench, with all their impact men getting on the ball.

When McCaughan converted his two-pointers, Magherafelt were going to need a strong comeback but Abbey’s heads up football – led by Carr – kept them on the front foot and into a seven-point lead.

When Magherafelt bagged their goal, it was Lorcan Higgins who used his pace before he was fouled but McCann’s cracking finish was a mere consolation.

Scorers

St Mary’s Magherafelt: Shea McCann 1-0 pen, Ronan Birt (tp), Tony O’Hagan 0-2 each, Peter Coleman, Lorcan Higgins and Michael Lennon 0-1 each

Abbey Donegal: Thomas Lenihan 1-5 (tp, 2f), Lewis McCaughan 0-4 (2tpf), Conor Gallagher McCahill 0-2 (1f), Cian Gavigan and Eoghan Gallagher 0-1 each

Teams

St Mary’s Magherafelt: Sean Óg Quinn; Josh Ferguson, Joseph Rafferty, Liam McLarnon; Joseph Cassidy, Peter Coleman, Michael Lennon; Cathair McBride, Michael Higgins (Magherafelt); Cohen Cassidy, Lorcan Higgins, Michael Higgins (Ballinascreen); Tony O’Hagan, Ronan Birt, Shea McCann. Subs: Gabriel Gormley (52), Thomas Devlin (52)

Abbey Donegal: Lewis McCaughan; Eoghan O’Neill, Daniel McGinty, Ethan McCrea; Aidan Quinn, Patrick McGonagle, Cian Gavigan; Tomás Carr, Conal Flannery; Jake Quinn, Conor Gallagher McCahill, Christian Ward; Thomas Lenihan, Gethin Mosby, Eoghan Gallagher. Subs: Alan McHugh (HT), Jack McGroarty (40), Fionn Gillespie (43), Conor Griffin (55), Oisin Ebbs (57)

Referee: Paul Gallagher (Tyrone)