‘High-Fives’ for Omagh CBS in Oisin McGrath Cup Final

Omagh CBS 5-13   Abbey CBS 0-10

OMAGH CBS recovered from a slow start to overpower Abbey CBS in the Danske Bank Oisin McGrath Final at Ardboe on Friday afternoon, as this group of players made it three titles in a row.

Abbey played against the wind in the first half and they were well set up aware of the threat posed by this Omagh side.

The Down school defended in numbers and frustrated their opponents as they continuously broke up their opponents attacks. By the 22nd minute only one point had been scored and there is no doubt that the underdogs were more than happy with the position that they found themselves in. All that changed in the remainder of the half as the favourites found their mojo to hit 2-6 without reply and they never looked back.

In the second half, the winners counterattacked at speed to cut open their opponents, Abbey CBS finishing with only two points from play to their name. It was a good all round team display from Omagh CBS once they found their stride as they emerged comfortable winners on the day to get their school off to a good start for the weekend.

With the likes of Eoghan Donnelly, Peter Colton, Peter Garrity, Cathal Farley, Cormac Darcy and team Captain Diarmuid Martin to the fore, Omagh CBS gradually wore down their stubborn opponents. Garrity had opened the scoring but they failed to add to that with a Darcy wide from a good goal chance. They crucially didn’t panic though, and when Darcy set up Donnelly for a 22nd minute goal they kicked on. Colton and Martin tagged on points with Darcy making up for his earlier miss with a fine finish to the net. Donnelly added to their lead before an Odhran Reel free opened Abbey’s account to leave it 2-6 to 0-1 at the break.

Abbey hit the opening two scores of the second period through Reel and substitute Oisin Byrne but that was as good as it got for them. Man of the match Garrity then surged through on a 40 metre run before firing in a brilliant goal to effectively finish the game as a contest. Garrity and Martin exchanged points with Reel and Byrne before wing half back Charlie Meenan got forward for a quality score.

Two points in as many minutes from Colton kept the scoreboard ticking over before Garrity flicked a Donnelly delivery to the net.

Omagh had defender Aodhan Corry sent off but while Reel converted a couple of frees it was Omagh’s day with midfielder Cathal Cunningham pointing before Garrity completed his hattrick late on.