Holders CBS back in another Hogan Cup Final

OMAGH CBS 1-14 ST GERALD’S CASTLEBAR 0-9

THE BROTHERS are back at Croker for the second year running!

The dream of back-to-back All-Ireland titles is very much alive after Omagh CBS recorded an ultimately convincing eight point victory over Connacht champions St Gerald’s Castlebar at Ballyshannon on Sunday afternoon.

Dromore’s Paudi Dillon led the scoring stakes, with a goal and four points to his name, but again this was a success built on a formidible and determined defensive unit, and a solid and assured presence around centre field. Spasmodic moments of attacking creativity also helped them across the winning line with some room to spare.

As well as Dillon’s impressive contribution, mention must also go to Brian Gallagher, Callum Daly and Charlie Donnelly down the spine of the team. They are playing like men on a mission right now.

Exchanges were typically rugged and tenacious in the first quarter, with both sides struggling for any cohesion or fluency in their attacking play.

Despite playing against the wind, Omagh did carve out openings but with a series of efforts either dropping short or wide of the target it stymied their game in this initial phase.

They almost enjoyed a dream start in the third minute when Paudi Dillon picked out Niall McCarney surging through but he dragged his shot past the post.

Dillon looked lively throughout the first period and it was the Dromore ace who floated over the first score from out on the right wing in the fifth minute, though Dara Neary quickly responded with a quality point at the other end for St Geralds.

The CBS suffered a scare when vice-captain Ruairi McCullagh was forced out of the fray having shipped a heavy tackle along the endline, but fortunately he wasn’t out of action for too long.

His temporary replacement Matthew Howe impressed during his brief cameo and did well to win a free which Liam Og Mossey converted to restore Omagh’s lead.

While Callum Daly and Charlie Donnelly making an imprint in exchanges, scores were still thin on the ground and it was Castlebar dangerman Neary who struck over another admirable attempt from distance to tie the match up again at 0-2 apiece by the twenty minute mark.

A deft lay off from Dillon enabled Donnelly to gallop through and split the posts, but Neary replied in kind again with the equaliser for the Mayo boys.

What had been a cautious, tight fought encounter took a dramatic turn in Omagh’s favour in the run-up to the interval, as they wrested a complete grip on proceedings, outscoring their opponents 1-4 to no score.

Dillon cut inside to drop over a lovely sore, and then dynamic half-back Mark Corcoran swapped passes with Jack Law before rifling a point, to leave two in it for the first time.

Omagh were really purring now as an attacking force. Charlie Donnelly punctured another gaping hole in the St Gerald’s rearguard and found his overlapping full-back Brian Gallagher who cut in and fisted over.

The only goal of the contest arrived in the 29^th minute, that man Dillon darting in along the endline and firing high past keeper Sean Rabbette at his near post. Credit though to defender Sean McCann’s whose brilliant blockdown at the other end of the field kickstarted the CBS raid.

In injury time Donnelly marauded through again to slip over a score, this effort arriving just seconds after Ryan Gibbons cracked an effort off the underside of the Omagh bar. On such fine margins….

Trailing 1-7 to 0-3 heading into the second half there was no real indication early on that Castlebar could mount any sort of concerted fightback. Gibbons did convert a free, but with McCullagh stroking over an Omagh free, and Dillon fisting a score, the CBS remained very firmly in the box-seat.

Several reckless tackles by the Castlebar boys was a sign of their growing frustration (though referee Murphy did appear overly lenient) and another hit to the head saw McCullagh removed as a precautionary measure.

A brace of Liam Og Mossey pointed frees kept the scoreboard ticking over for Omagh, and despite excellent efforts from Cathal Keaveney and sub Zac Collins, St Gerald’s found possession turned over tine and again any occasion they ventured beyond the Omagh ’45’.

Nathan Farry and Charlie Donnelly (free) registered as the match drifted towards its inevitable conclusion, and not even the concession of a few consolation scores to Gibbons (free), Gavin Forry and Dara Neary could disguise the gulf between the sides on the day.

Next up its Mercy Mounthawk of Tralee in the All-Ireland Final as Omagh look to ‘swoop’ for the Hogan Cup yet again on St Patrick’s weekend.

THE SCORERS

Omagh CBS

Paudi Dillon (1-4), Charlie Donnelly (0-3,1 free), Liam Og Mossey (0-3,3frees), Brian Gallagher, Nathan Farry, Mark Corcoran (0-1 each), Ruairi McCullagh (0-1,free)

St Gerald’s Castlebar

Dara Neary (0-4), Ryan Gibbons (0-2,2frees), Gavin Forry, Cathal Keaveney, Zac Collins (0-1 each)

THE TEAMS

Omagh CBS

Oisin Watson, Blaine Lynch, Brian Gallagher, Sean McCann, Nathan Farry, Callum Daly, Mark Corcoran, Eoin Donaghy, Charlie Donnelly, Oisin Teague, Ruairi McCullagh, Jack Law, Niall McCarney, Paudi Dillon, Liam Og Mossey. Subs used: Adrian McGurren for R McCullagh (36mins), John Edgar for O Teague (55), Matthew Howe for N McCarney (55), Sean Broderick for N Farry (60), Enda Donaghy for C Donnelly (60)

St Gerald’s Castlebar

Sean Rabbette, Yousif Coghill, Muiris O’Clochartaigh, Connall Durcan, Jack Prendergast, Fionan O’Reilly, Seanoe O’Reilly, Shane Cunningham, Patrick Flannelly, Joe Forry, Cathal Keaveney, Dara Neary, Cian Walsh, Gavin Forry, Ryan Gibbons. Subs used: Evan Walsh for J Forry (h-time), Zac Collins for J Prendergast (h-time), Jude Lavin for R Gibbons (53mins), Chris Geraghty for S O’Reilly (57)

Referee: Eoin Murphy (Fermanagh)