St Pat’s manager Gourley feels Omagh’s experience told

St Patrick’s Academy manager Ciaran Gourley accepted that Omagh’s greater experience probably helped them to assert control in crucial stages of Sunday’s all-Tyrone MacRory Cup final clash in Armagh.

Dungannon last collected the trophy in 2009 (when Omagh were also their opponents) but on this occasion it was the maroon and white who prevailed by six points to dash St Pat’s hopes.

With influential captain Fiachra Nelis unable to participate due to a broken wrist the Academy still gave their all and having reeled in a five point deficit in the second half appeared to have all the momentum.

To their credit though Omagh came on strong again to outscore St Pat’s 1-5 to 0-2 in the last ten minutes as they defended their crown. Gourley was gracious in defeat afterwards.

“ In fairness both teams will probably reflect back and say it wasn’t their best game. Both teams were nervous in the first half and missed a lot of chances. We hoped to get a few scores at the start of the second half to close that gap but it was Omagh who opened a five point lead. That left us chasing the game.

“ Obviously then the goal gave us a massive lift but unfortunately Omagh them got the next point and they got a fortuitous enough goal too, a bit like our own in fairness. On reflection they missed chances too and had openings in the first half which they didn’t take and were the better team. We just have to accept that.”

And the former Tyrone defender felt that the know-how which Omagh would have accrued from their Ulster and All-Ireland campaigns in 2023 did stand to them at that key juncture in the second half.

“ If we had of taken some of our chances it may have made a difference but we didn’t and that is just the way football goes. You have to take those when you are on top. Omagh were just that bit more clinical.

“ Omagh were down this road last year and it has been a longer period of time for us. In fairness our boys have done brilliantly to get to this stage. The whole way through their school line they never really featured in any finals.

“ But you seen Omagh around the middle had their partnership from last year in Donaghy and Donnelly and they got on a lot of ball for them today. We struggled in that are so again you could see Omagh’s tad more experience was a factor.”