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Omagh CBS Back In Hogan Final
Sunday 25.02.2024
Omagh CBS 1-14 St.Geralds Castlebar 0-9
History was made on Sunday afternoon when Omagh CBS became the first Tyrone School to make it to back to back Hogan Cup finals following a comfortable eight point success over St.Geralds Castlebar in Ballyshannon. Omagh took a while to settle but once they got to the pace of the game they were more than good value for the win.
The key period in the match came in the closing seven minutes of the first half when the winners hit 1-4 without reply to take a vice like grip on proceedings and they controlled the pace and flow of the game after that. In fairness to Castlebar they needed things to go right for them. They created a great chance of a goal just before half time when a superb shot came off the crossbar with the keeper well beaten. To add to the pain Omagh went straight down the field and Charlie Donnelly fired over another point for the reigning champions to send Omagh off in buoyant mood at the break.
The sides were very evenly matched early on with the Mayo men making the most of their physicality and strength in the tackle. Early points from Paudi Dillon and Charlie Donnelly for Omagh were cancelled out by the industrious Dara Neary who landed a trio of superb scores for St.Geralds.
Donnelly and Eoin Donaghy began to dominate around the middle third receiving good support from a very industrious defence with Brian Gallagher, Sean McCann, Nathan Farry and Callum Daly to the fore. Dillon fired over a quality point after cutting in from the left wing before defenders Mark Corcoran and Gallagher both struck fine scores as their team began to go through the gears.
In the 29th minute Omagh struck for their goal with a move that began with a brilliant defensive block by the outstanding corner back Sean Mc Cann. The ball was immediately transferred to Corcoran who drove down the wing before finding the fleet footed Dillon and the full forward wasted no time as he cut inside his marker before smashing the ball to the roof of the net.
Leading 1-7 to 0-3 at the break Omagh kept control of the game with some superb teamwork and looked well capable of getting further scores if required. Ruairi McCullagh, Liam Og Mossey and Dillon all tagged on third quarter points and while St.Geralds responded through substitute Zac Collins the gap was now eight.
Farry looked composed throughout and hit a great score with Donnelly and Dillon both on target again with Ryan Gibbons and Gavin Forry responding for the Mayo school. Dillon then took his personal haul to 1-4 and while Neary replied for Castlebar it was only academic. On a day to forget for the Connacht Champions they finished 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
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