Bessbrook through to Armagh derby semi-final in MacRory
Danske Bank MacRory Cup Quarter-final
St Paul’s Bessbrook 0-10 St Michael’s Enniskillen 1-3
St Paul’s Bessbrook won yesterday’s Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-final in Clones fairly comfortably to set up a first ever all-Armagh pairing in the semi-final this coming weekend.
In the semi-final draw made at the end of the game, John Rafferty’s side drew the competition surprise-packets St Ronan’s from Lurgan in a game that will likely take place in the Athletic Grounds this coming weekend.
Both Bessbrook and Lurgan will be happy enough to have avoided the big hitters of St Patrick’s Maghera and St Patrick’s Academy who came out together in the other half of the draw.
Yesterday’s quarter-final witnessed a solid enough performance from Bessbrook who went into a 0-8 to 0-2 interval lead. Liam Kerr, Shea Loye and Josh Durnan hit the opening three points within seven minutes.
Lorcan McStravick, who was a constant threat for St Michael’s at full-forward, swivelled to drive over his side’s opener after 11 minutes. But it was to prove a false dawn for the Fermanagh side with St Paul’s hitting five unanswered scores, two for Shea Loye and three from Liam Kerr.
The movement of this pair in creating spcae for themselves was impressive, as was their score-taking.
McStravick eventually pointed a free close to half-time, but Enniskillen looked in trouble at the turnover and badly in need of a big score or a run of points to get them going.
That didn’t materialise in the second half with Liam Kerr pointing on the re-start and then stretching the lead to eight points with his third free of the afternoon in the 38th minute.
That was to prove Bessbrook’s final score. They could have added to their account on a couple of occasions, but in general were happy enough to consolidate their position and see themselves through to the semi-finals.
St Michael’s brought McStravick out to centre-forward, a move that probably pleased Bessbrook as the Tempo Maguires’ clubman carried a real goal-threat.
A glimmer of hope for Enniskillen came with the award of a 52nd minute penalty for a foot-block. McStravick despatched it efficiently, but his side could not close the gap further, apart from his third point as the game went into injury time.
There was still time left for a bit of drama in front of the Bessbrook goal when Enniskillen substitute Matthew McAloon got his fist to a dropping ball. But the goal was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper and the free-out was greeted by the final whistle.
St Paul’s : M Murphy, R McGuiness, D Loye, C McDonnell, E McCabe, R Gaskin, C Magennis, J óg Burns capt, D O’Hagan, R Keenan, J Durnan 0-1, A Boyle, L Kerr 0-6, 0-3 frees, S Loye 0-3, R McSherry.
Subs : N Magennis for R McSherry, S Finnegan for C McDonnell, A Finnegan for J Durnan, Z Burgiaichtas for A Boyle.
St Michael’s : O McBrien, J McCaffrey, R McCaffrey, N Tierney, S McGullion, E Curran, C McGee, T Bogue, D O Catháin, D McQuaid, D McGurn, C Quinn, C Jones, L McStravick 1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free, G Deery.
Subs J Garrity for J McCaffrey, E Drumm for C Jones, M McAloon for G Deery, P Breen for D McGurn, P Maguire for C Quinn.
