Brilliant Brothers show no ‘Mercy’ to retain title

OMAGH CBS 3-14 MERCY MOUNTHAWK 0-11

SHOWING little ‘Mercy’ holders Omagh CBS clipped the wings of Mounthawk with a power-packed second half display at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon to defend their All-Ireland crown in scintillating fashion.

It may not have been the ‘six hit ‘they produced in last year’s Hogan Cup decider against Summerhill but nonetheless for the second year running the boys in maroon and white ran amok at Headquarters, leaving their shell-shocked Kerry opponents a distant second best come the final whistle.

Leading by the bare minimum at the break (0-7 to 0-6) the CBS shifted through the gears on the turnaround, with Ruairi McCullagh helping himself to a brace of goals, and Paudi Dillon grabbing the other. Tralee just had no answer.

With Charlie Donnelly and Eoin Donaghy imperious in midfield (they weighed in with seven points combined from open play), ably assisted around that sector by Niall McCarney, Omagh bossed the possession stakes, especially after the interval, and with Blaine Lynch, Nathan Farry and captain Callum Daly water-tight and tenacious in defence, this one was done and dusted long before the end.

The reigning champions almost enjoyed a dream start, when Dillon slipped in behind on an Omagh counter-attack but his first time effort from distance, beat the keeper Michael Tansley but drifted just wide of the far post.

Donnelly set the tone for his monster of an afternoon with the opening score off his left peg, but Mercy Mounthawk quickly settled to their task with three points on the hop, their dangerman Paddy Lane registering each of them (from open play, a free and a mark).

Dillon almost paved the way for an Omagh goal when he played in gallivanting corner back Sean McCann, but he lost his footing on rounding the keeper and the chance went abegging.

As the half unfolded a more direct approach began to pay dividends for Omagh as the Loughmacrory clubmates McCullagh and Donaghy each showed admirable composure to split the posts and level matters up.

However quality scores from Niall Collins and Odhran Ferris eased Tralee back in front again as the pleasing ebb and flow to the competitive exchanges was maintained.

There was signs in the run-up to the break that Omagh were beginning to assert an element of control. McCullagh knocked over a ‘mark’, and then Donnelly capitalised from some selfless work by Dillon along the endline to sweetly fire over.

Even when reduced to fourteen men after McCullagh picked up a 27^th minute black card, the CBS maintained their poise and application. Scores from Dillon and Liam Og Mossey (free) sandwiched a further Lane free at the other end leaving the outcome very much in the melting pot at half-time.

Donaghy’s driving run soon after the resumption earned a free which Mossey converted, and suggested that a few choice words in the Omagh changing room at the break were immediately having the desired impact.

With Charlie Donnelly continuing his personal scoring rampage, the CBS had eased three in front before they swooped for the first goal in the 40^th minute. Mounthawk defender James Fisher failed to deal with a hopping ball and the lively Dillon took full advantage as he stole in to smash a shot high past Tansley into the net.

Though Sean Corkery replied with a neat Tralee score, their cause began to look a forlorn one with the concession of a second goal just past the three quarter mark. After Dillon saw his intial attempt smothered by the goalie, defender Padraig O’Halloran was dislodged by the alert McCullagh and he finished high to the net with some aplomb.

It was effectively game over after that, despite another brace of Paddy Lane frees for Mounthawk. They just had no answer to Omagh’s attacking onslaughts, and in particular that man Donnelly who brought his personal haul to five points, all from open play, while Dillon tagged on a ‘mark.

A second successive All-Ireland had long since been wrapped up even before McCullagh exchanged passes with McCarney and nonchalently rolled in a third Omagh goal in the 56^th minute.

Late scores from Dillon and Donaghy embellished what has been another memorable St Patrick’s weekend for the Omagh school.

The Scorers

Omagh CBS

Ruairi McCullagh (2-2,1mark), Paudi Dillon (1-3, 1mark), Charlie Donnelly (0-5), Eoin Donaghy (0-2), Liam Og Mossey (0-2,2frees)

Mercy Mounthawk

Paddy Lane (0-6,4frees,1 mark), Odhran Ferris (0-2), Niall Collins, Sean Corkery (0-1 each), Tomas Kennedy (0-1, mark)

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: John Edgar for O Teague (54mins), Matthew Howe for P Dillon (57), Adrian McGurren for N McCarney (60)

Mercy Mounthawk

Michael Tansley, Gary O’Riordan, Oisin McGibney, James Fisher, Padraig O’Halloran, Oran Murphy, Ben Murphy, Daniel Kirby, Cian O’Gara, Niall Collins, Odhran Ferris, Sean Corkery, Paddy Lane, Tomas Kennedy, Noah Townsend. Subs used: Kian Sheehan for N Townsend (50mins), Ben Sharp for J Fisher (54), Jake Hoare for C O’Gara (54), Tiernan O’Sullivan for S Cockery (60), Bobby Byrne for P O’Halloran (60)

Referee: David Gough (Meath)