Another shock in MacRory as St Ronan’s reach semi
St Ronan’s Lurgan 1-13 St Colman’s Newry 1-10
A 55th minute goal from Kevin McAlinden in Saturday’s quarter-final in Burren continues St Ronan’s remarkable Danske Bank MacRory Cup run into the semi-final stage.
The new school in Lurgan showed no signs pre-Christmas that they could make it through the two games ahead of them, but on Saturday showed huge resilience and no little skill and teamwork to edge home against St Colman’s, a team that had been running high back in November.
They had done their homework on south Armagh boys Eoghan McDonnell and Rian O’Neill with Ryan Owens and Barry McCambridge keeping them fairly well under wraps – although O’Neill fired over some super scores in his seven points’ contribution, and McDonnell found the net in the 33rd minute.
In response to that goal, which put St Colman’s 1-7 to 0-6 ahead, St Ronan’s upped the ante and scored five unanswered points to re-take the lead – all five from the superb Conor McConville, but with great support from his cousin Aidan, Kevin McAlinden and an excellent defensive unit.
A great point from O’Neill made it 1-8 to 0-11 and Jack Lenehan and Ryan McGreevey traded scores before McCambridge took a high catch behind midfield and fed McAlinden. The latter found Eunan Walsh but continued his run to take the return pass and crash it past Jack Heaney, who had brought off a superb stop shortly after McDonnell’s goal.
At three points up, St Ronan’s had the maturity to see out the game, Aidan McConville pointing in response to O’Neill over the last few minutes.
The opening half finished at 0-5 each, with St Ronan’s setting the early pace for a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes, a McConville free opening their account and Walsh and Conal Turbitt adding to it.
O’Neill pointed the next three scores, but St Ronan’s were not to be shaken – not even when Frank Aiken found the range within 30 seconds of the re-start and McDonnell added his major.
The next 15 minutes brought out the Lurgan side’s real character and the goal completed a great comeback to put them, along with Maghera, through to the semi-finals.
The double-header in Inniskeen set for Sunday was called off late Saturday evening and it is hoped to sort re-fixtures for later in the week. The semi-final draw will be scheduled for then as well.
St Ronan’s : Kevin McAlinden 1-0, Conor McConville 0-8, 0-4 frees, Aidan McConville 0-2, Eunan Walsh 0-1, Conal Turbitt 0-1, Jack Lenehan 0-1.
St Colman’s : Eoghan McDonnell 1-0, Rian O’Neill 0-7, 0-3 frees, Conall Gordon 0-1, Frank Aiken 0-1, Ryan McGreevy 0-1.
