St Coleman’s 1-13 OLSS Castleblayney 4-6
Three first half goals from OLSS Castleblayney proved too much for St Coleman’s to overcome in the opening round of the MacRory Cup.
The Newry based College controlled most of possession in the opening period, but the old adage of goals win games rang through in the end.
Aaron O’Neill opened the scoring with a fantastic mark, but the visitors replied instantly with the first goal.
Mac McGinnitty ended a sweeping move with a great finish to the corner and followed it up with a pointed free.
Some quick hands from Kealan McMahon played through Stephen Mooney who fired hope a second goal for Castleblayney.
St Coleman’s had their own goal chance. Senan Carr powered through the defence, but saw his effort blocked before it reached the goal.
St Coleman’s hit a purple patch though and rattled off 1-5 on the trot. Cormac O’Reilly (2) and O’Neill knocked over frees while Patrick Ruddy also split the posts.
The three then combined to put St Coleman’s in front. Ruddy won the resulting kick out, found O’Neill, who played through O’Reilly and the corner forward slotted home to the net.
Once again Castleblayney replied with a green flag as McGinnitty blasted home a second goal, followed by a point.
O’Reilly and Michael Murdock pointed for St Coleman’s before McGinnitty claimed another point. That left the score St Coleman’s 1-7 Castleblayney 3-3 at half time.
The sides traded scores at the beginning of the second half before Bobby McCaul palmed home a 4th Castleblayney goal.
St Coleman’s fought bravely to capture victory and a brace each from O’Neill and O’Reilly brought narrowed the gap.
But three points was as close as they could get, and they couldn’t find the goal that would save the game.
