D’Alton Cup Success

Omagh CBS defeated Abbey CBS after extra time to win the Danske Bank Dalton Cup following a highly competitive and high quality game.

Both sides deserve huge credit for producing a game that was as entertaining as it was skilful with quality football the order of the day.

Omagh were the better side for most of the first half but still only led by a point at the break. The Brothers looked capable of scoring with every attack but they will be disappointed that they failed to capitalise on the chances they created. However as the half wore on the Newry school came more and more into it and only trailed 1-4 to 1-3 at the break.

After the restart Cormac McGarvey and Daniel Colton increased Omagh’s lead and it looked like the Tyrone school were on their way. Lorcan Gallen fired the ball to the roof of the net in the 35th minute they appeared set for victory. However Abbey showed great heart and were really back in the contest when Eoghan Rafferty passed the ball across the goalmouth for Tom Keely to palm to the net.

Points from the outstanding Jarlath Murphy and Rafferty narrowed the gap to a single point as Abbey began to dominate possession before Colton responded from a free. Murphy and Johnny O’Hagan pointed to bring the sides level before Gallen and Murphy traded scores with Jack McCarroll also on target.

With time running out a free from Johnny O’Hagan looked to have won it for Abbey but there was still time for further drama. The Newry lads lost the influential Rafferty to a second yellow card in injury time and with the last kick Omagh defender Odhran Goodman fired it over to take it to extra time at 2-9 apiece.

Abbey were back up to 15  for extra time and substitute Caolan McBride gave them the perfect start to put them in front. Turner tied the scores again with a fine point before McGarvey dummied his marker to make it 2-11 to 2-10 at halftime.

Colton opened the scoring and Turner added to it as Omagh started the second period brightly. O ‘Hagan responded with a converted free but that was cancelled out by Dan Sheridan before Billy McElholm put four between them.

It looked all over but then Abbey midfielder Adam McEvoy grabbed a goal with time almost up. Omagh showed great composure and control and they sealed the silverware with a McGarvey point.

Omagh scorers: P Turner 1-2, D Colton 0-4, L Gallen 1-1, C McGarvey 0-3, J McCarroll 0-2, O Goodman 0-1, B McElholm 0-1, T Colton 0-1, D Sheridan 0-1

Abbey scorers: J O’Hagan 0-4, E Rafferty 0-3, J Murphy 0-3, S Power 1-0, T Keely 1-0, A McEvoy 1-0, C McBride 0-1

Referee: N McKenna, Monaghan

Match Report Courtesy of TeamTalk Mag