St Patrick’s Academy have qualified for this year’s MacRory Cup decider following an outstanding battle with Abbey VS in Ballintra.  It took extra time to separate two well matched sides.

Abbey used the wind to their advantage in the opening half as they led by six at the break with Tomas Carr and Thomas Lenihan both accounting for four points with Liam McGeary and James Mulgrew getting Dungannon scores. The Academy should have been closer missing two  goal chances.

Dungannon started brightly with two Eoin Long points but keeper Lewis McCaughan well struck two point free kept the lead at six. Ruairi O’Neill struck for the game’s only goal in the 39th minute, Abbey failed to deal with Eoin Long ‘s long range free and O’Neill finished the break ball to the net.  Colm Diver brought the sides level with twelve minutes remaining after great work from Lorcan McMurray.

Eight minutes passed without a score but Abbey struck a trio of points which looked crucial however McGeary and McMurray left the minimum between as the game entered additional time. An unbelievable strike from James Mulgrew raised an orange flag but a free from Lenihan sent the game to extra time. 1-13 0-16.

Dungannon controlled the opening period against the breeze with Darragh Devlin on target followed by McGeary, Carr responded with a brilliant two point score.  The sides swapped sidss tied 1-16 0-19.

With the breeze at their back, Dungannon took control scores from Mulgrew, who brought his tally to seven, McMurray Aodhan Quinn and McGeary saw Dungannon through.