Omagh CBS lose out in Rannafast Cup semi

Omagh CBS 1-4
St Patrick’s Maghera 1-7

OMAGH’S hopes of getting to the Danske Bank Rannafast decider ended at Loup on Saturday morning when they lost out to St Patrick’s, Maghera.

In the end only three points separated the sides but there was no doubt that Maghera were deserving winners. The Derry lads played against the wind in the first half but they still found themselves 1-3 to 0-3 in front at the break thanks to a well taken Ciaran Chambers goal in the 25th minute.

Scores proved difficult to come by in trying weather conditions but Maghera always looked comfortable and at one stage they were six points to the good.

Omagh CBS struggled throughout the contest to break down a well organised Maghera defence with centre half back Fionn McEldowney man of the match after giving an outstanding display. Omagh CBS substitute Jack Law set up a close finish with a 58th minute goal but that was as good as it got for the Tyrone lads on a day when they had two players sent off in injury time.

It was Omagh CBS who opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a free from midfielder Ruairi McCullagh after Eoin Donaghy had been fouled but that was to be the only time that they would lead in the contest.

McEldowney began a move that involved Chambers and Shea Birt and ended with the latter taking a superb equaliser and by the ninth minute they were 0-3 to 0-1 in front thanks to scores from Lee O’Neill and Chambers.

The next kick out was won by Omagh CBS midfielder Niall McCarney and he delivered a long ball to full forward Donaghy who took a neat score with his left and by the end of the opening quarter the sides were level after McCullagh had converted another free.

The rest of the half though produced little in the way of good football as Maghera were content to hold possession with Omagh carrying no scoring threat.

Just before the interval the crucial score of the game arrived when McEldowney again the orchestrator as he found Birt who in turn passed it to Chambers and he gave ‘keeper Aidan Colton no chance with a brilliant finish low to the bottom left hand corner of the net. Even at this stage you got the feeling that Omagh CBS had it all to do if they were going to win the game.

It was Maghera who began the second half on the front foot and after defender Finbhar McShane was unlucky to see his effort for a point hit the post they opened the scoring with a superb effort with the outside of his boot from Sean Boyd. Good pressure from the Maghera forwards then forced a mistake at the back from Omagh and Conor Downey laid the ball back for Chambers to make it a five-point game.

By the end of the third quarter the Maghera advantage had grown to half a dozen points after a great ball down the right wing from Tiernan McCormick picked out Birt who cut inside past two challenges to score a beauty with his weaker left foot. In the next attack Omagh CBS finally opened their second half account with a wonderful effort from Charlie Donnelly from out on the right wing to give them a bit of hope that they could still turn things around.

A brilliant block from wing half back Tom Gavin denied Birt a goal chance before a flowing move ended with Chambers putting six between the sides again.

With only two minutes of normal time left to play Omagh CBS were thrown a lifeline when they scored a goal.

A 20-metre free from McCullagh in front of the goals was charged down and in the scramble that ensued it was substitute Law who got the all important touch to half the deficit. From being in control Maghera now had to hold on but they managed to do so.

Tempers flared up with Omagh midfielder Niall McCarney picking up a straight red card and moments later centre half back Callum Daly got a second yellow as Omagh CBS bowed out.