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Omagh CBS Scrape Through In Mac Rory
Friday 12.01.2024
Omagh CBS defeated Our Lady’s Castleblaney 1-14 to 3-7 in the Mac Rory Cup Quarter final on Friday night at Healy Park after the Monaghan lads dragged themselves back into the game in the final quarter to come from seven points down to almost winning it right at the end.
This was a game that Omagh looked to have under control for most of the opening forty five minutes but their opponent’s ability to cause mayhem with direct running and a very effective big target man meant that Blaney were always in with a shout.
With the returning Nathan Farry, Charlie Donnelly and Ruairi Mc Cullagh in fine form Omagh created some great early chances of scores. Their pace and willingness to work hard for each other caused Castleblaney all sorts of problems in the first half. Points from Oisin Teague, Mc Cullagh and Liam Òg Mossey helped to settle the team while their opponents appeared nervous and wasteful early on. A Bobby Mc Caul point from a mark after six minutes was the only shot on target that they had in the opening fifteen minutes.
In the meantime a blunder from the Castleblaney goalkeeper following a speculative Ruairi Mc Cullagh effort and points from Jack Law and Paudi Dillon made it 1-5 to 0-1 in favour of Omagh.
The Monaghan lads looked low on confidence as passes went astray and their key men struggled to influence the game. Tiernan Mc Geoghan and Max Mc Ginnity hit the target for Blaney swapping scores with Eoin Donaghy and Ruairi Mc Cullagh to send the teams off at the break with Omagh leading 1-7 to 0-3.
The reigning champions started the second half positively with a brace of Ruairi Mc Cullagh points to put nine between the teams but the green shoots of a Castleblaney recovery soon appeared when the highly impressive Bobby Mc Caul plundered the first of three goals that changed the entire complexion of the game.
Max Mc Ginnity came more into the game and the contribution of second half substitute Lorcan Mone also proved significant. Omagh added a further brace of points with one apiece from Paidi Dillon and Ruairi Mc Cullagh. However as the game entered the closing ten minutes it was the Monaghan lads with the momentum. Mc Ginnity swung over two points before Mone broke through to hit the net and make it a three point game.
Omagh began to look nervous but a fine Charlie Donnelly score made it a four point game with fifty nine minutes on the clock. However there was still time for further drama as Max Mc Ginnity hammered home a third Castleblaney goal and put one between the teams.
Suddenly extra time looked a possibility but Omagh’s Mc Cullagh found a way to create another chance and stretch the lead to two. Blaney refused to throw in the towel and Mc Ginnity curled over a fabulous right footed shot to leave one in it and time running out.
There was time for one last chance and although the ball fell kindly for the Monaghan forwards the attempted shot drifted left and Omagh survived to win by one.
That win puts them into a semi final clash with St Mary’s Magherafelt.
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