Brothers boss Donnelly expects tough MacRory Semi-Final battle

DESPITE turning on the afterburners to belatedly kill-off St Colman’s in the last round, Omagh CBS manager Kieran Donnelly has warned that his charges will have to up their game to get the better of high-scoring St Mary’s Magherafelt in Friday night’s Ulster Schools MacRory Cup semi-final.

The two teams will battle it out under the lights at the Athletic Grounds to try and nail down a berth in the decider, with each having advanced in impressive fashion through to the last four.

However whereas St Mary’s had little problem disposing with the challenge of St Patrick’s Dungannon on a 2-18 to 0-9 scoreline, Omagh’s tussle with Newry went to extra-time before the Brothers pulled clear to run out 1-16 to 1-9 victors.

Oisin Gormley turned in a man of the match display for Omagh CBS, the Drumquin lad a tower of strength throughout in midfield, kicking three vital points into the bargain, including the inspirational equaliser which brought the game to extra time.

At one stage it appeared that the Brothers were going to kick themselves out of contention, spurning a host of opportunities, but Donnelly was pleased that they came good when it mattered most.

“ It was a typical quarter-final game in that it was high tempo, with a good pace. Of course there was mistakes made. Part of that was due to the pitch at times. It was nip and tuck and very competitive the whole way through. We just felt that we missed key chances at stages which could have pushed us over the line in normal time.

“ But to go into extra-time and finish the match the way we did was a massive boost for the squad to realise that we can display that character when we are up against it.”

The quarter-final of the MacRory Cup any year is a notoriously difficult outcome to predict with teams coming out of cold storage following the Christmas break, but that was especially the case this season with the match pencilled in for the first weekend of January. Given other factors that came into play, Donnelly was just relieved to get over the winning line.

“ You are coming off that four or five week break around Christmas. On top of that you had all the illnesses and sickness too. You are really hoping that your training the two weeks before the match is up to scratch and the boys will be sharp and focused.

“ We knew St Colman’s were a very strong team with a few quality forwards so we really had to be at it. In fairness to the squad- we had to utilise the whole squad- they stepped up when it counted. Quarter-finals are all about winning and just getting to the next stage.

“ The boys proved that they are in good shape. We looked the fitter and stronger team in extra-time. We really pushed on, maximising our chances at critical stages. They trained very well over Christmas. That is always part and parcel of any MacRory Cup team, you always put your shift in over the Christmas holidays. We were glad we did because we new we had it in the legs come extra time.”

In contrast this Friday’s opponents St Mary’s displayed few signs of rustiness in their demolition of Dungannon, but the firepower they demonstrated didn’t surprise the CBS coach.

“ We had heard about Magherafelt from the off. They defeated us in the Brock Cup competition two or three years ago, the same group of players. There hasn’t been a massive amount between the teams.

“They have probably been the most free scoring team throughout the MacRory Cup in wracking up big tallies so we know they are a serious proposition and have some really quality forwards. They highlighted that against Dungannon and we know we will have to be really on it to curtail their potency.”

One fascinating subplot surrounding this Friday’s encounter is that one of Omagh’s key attackers- Eoin McElholm (a member of the Tyrone Minor side which reached last year’s All-Ireland Final) finds himself in direct opposition to his father John, the manager of Magherafelt.

While jesting that family allegiances should come first, Kieran Donnelly acknowledges that his St Mary’s counterpart will no doubt be solely focused on steering his school through to the MacRory Cup Final.

“ I’m just hoping with John that blood is thicker than water but in all seriousness him and Eoin are very close so it’s tough one. I’m just trying to put myself in that situation and it wouldn’t be easy.

“ It’s a real rarity. I have never seen that scenario before. You see plenty of times the father managing his son in the same team but not the opposition.

“But you have to be professional and you have a job to do with your own squad first and foremost. You have built up that special relationship with them and no doubt that will be the case with John.”