Sigersons Victorious In Mc Garrity Cup

Friday 02.05.2025

Club

Strabane Sigersons and Cookstown Fr Rocks met on Friday evening to determine the destination of the Mc Garrity Cup for the 2025 season.

Strabane had already defeated Cookstown in the final of the Ulster Junior League and were hoping to make it a double when they locked horns on Friday evening in front of a large crowd of spectators at Carrickmore.

The game initially was short on quality and composure during the opening quarter with only a point apiece to show for their efforts after almost twenty minutes of play where basic errors resulted in numerous scoring chances being spurned.

Karol Wawrynkiewicz and Gary Quigg had exchanged points early in the contest but neither side looked capable of bothering the umpires or hitting the target during a very unproductive opening twenty minutes.

Two pointers from Oran Mc Grath and Wawrynkiewicz raised the interest level as both sides began to show what they were capable of producing. Another two pointer from Wawrynkiewicz put the Fr Rocks two clear but the north Tyrone side finished the half strongly with a point apiece from the impressive Kelvin Nelson and Haydn Mc Namee to leave the half time score 0-5 apiece.

Strabane had the advantage of the wind after the break but it was Cookstown who were on top and creating the better chances. Points from Nathan Connolly, Keegan Hampsey and Niall Mc Murray put Cookstown three to the good and looking in control. Strabane looked rattled before a long range two pointer wide on the left from Oran Mc Grath got them up and going again.

Seamus Glackin responded for the Fr Rocks to put three between the sides again but Oran Mc Grath began to turn the screw around the middle of the park landing a two pointer and a third point to put Strabane one in front as the game entered the last ten minutes.

Wawrynkiewicz pointed again to bring his tally to six and tie the game before a Nathan Connolly effort had Cookstown in front once more. At this stage Ryan Mc Grath and Ryan Mc Elroy were driving the north Tyrone lads forward at every opportunity and with five minutes remaining Strabane drew level when Mc Grath fired over another beauty to level the scores at 0-11 apiece.

It was very much a case of who blinked first and Strabane finished the stronger. A goal apiece from Kelvin Nelson and Mark Roarty put them six clear with the clock showing thirty one minutes played. Cookstown refused to throw in the towel and forced two brilliant injury time saves from Strabane goalkeeper Eoin Haire and landed late points from Niall Mc Murray and Karol Wawrynkiewicz.

Unfortunately it was a case of too little too late and the sound of the final whistle was greeted with loud cheers and celebrations from the north Tyrone folk.

Final score : Strabane 2-11, Cookstown 0-13.

Paula Cuddy presented the Mc Garrity Cup to Strabane captain Ryan Mc Elroy following the game.