Omagh CBS are one win away from back to back Masita Hogan Cup successes.
Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Hogan Cup semi-final
Omagh CBS 1-14 St Gerald’s Castlebar 0-9
By Francis Mooney
Hogan Cup holders Omagh CBS powered into another final with a convincing win over St Gerald’s Castlebar at Ballyshannon.
The Tyrone lads controlled the game following a tentative start, attacking their opponents from all angles.
Paudi Dillon’s first half goal gave them the cushion they needed to push on and express themselves, with a dominant midfield pairing of Eoin Donaghy and Charlie Donnelly providing the platform.
The signs were ominous early on when an incisive move opened up the St Gerald’s defence for a goal chance, but Niall McCarney pulled his shot wide.
Nevertheless, it took the Tyrone lads some time to get going, and it was point for point for the opening 20 minutes, Dara Neary landing a couple of gems for Castlebar, and Paidi Dillon and Liam Og Mossey on target at the other end.
But the Omagh lads were more composed on the ball, and with support runners on hand in every attack, they grew in confidence.
The last ten minutes of the half belonged to the holders, as they out-scored the Connacht champions by 1-5 to 0-1 to take a firm grip on the contest.
Charlie Donnelly, an immense figure in the midfield exchanges, was at the centre of it all, landing a couple of points and keeping his side on the attack.
And in the 29th minute, they struck for a goal, full forward Dillon cutting in from the left to smash his angled shot to the roof of the net.
All St Gerald’s could manage in response was a long range Neary effort, but Ryan Gibbons was desperately unlucky to see his screaming shot smash against the crossbar after Yousif Coghill and Cian Walsh had combined.
Ryan Gibbons pulled a point back in a bright start for the Mayo school, but they were soon pinned back again, with Omagh landing four of the next five scores to underline their dominance.
Liam Og Mossey took over the place-kicking duties from the injured Ruairi McCullagh, planting three between the posts, and by the end of the third quarter, eight points separated the sides.
Cathal Keavney and Shane Cunningham worked tirelessly to ignite the Castlebar challenge, and they had scores from Zac Collins and Gibbons, but they could never find enough space against an Omagh defence in which Sean McCann and skipper Callum Daly were outstanding.
Omagh CBS scorers: P Dillon 1-4, L Og Mossey (3f), C Donnelly (1f) 0-3 each, R McCullagh (f), M Corcoran, N Farry, B Gallagher 0-1 each.
St Gerald’s Castlebar scorers: D Neary 0-4, R Gibbons 0-2 (2f) G Forry, C Keaveney, Z Collins 0-1 each.
Omagh CBS: O Watson; B Lynch, B Gallagher, S McCann; N Farry, C Daly, M Corcoran; E Donaghy, C Donnelly; O Teague, R McCullagh, J Law; N McCarney, P Dillon, L Og Mossey. Subs: A McGurren for McCullagh (36), J Edgar for Teague (55), M Howe for McCarney (55), S Broderick for Donaghy (62), Enda Donaghy for Donnelly (62).
St Gerald’s: 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, D Neary; C Walsh, G Forry, R Gibbons. Subs: E Walsh for J Forry (h-t), Z Collins for Prendergast (h-t), J Lavin for Gibbons (52), C Geraghty for O’Reilly (57)
Referee: E Murphy (Fermanagh).
