Maghera and Dungannon meet again

All roads lead to Loup this Friday night (7.30) for the eagerly awaited MacRory Cup clash of St Patrick’s Maghera and their Dungannon namesakes.

 

Twelve months ago, just up the road in Ballinderry, Dungannon put an end to Maghera’s three in a row hopes.  A first half goal by Brian Kennedy put the Tyrone men on course for victory.

 

This season Ciaran Gourley’s team were put to the pin of their collar against St Patrick’s Cavan in their Quarter Final in Corduff.

 

Despite Thomas Edward Donohoe grabbing a trademark goal for Cavan, Ryan Coleman and Cormac O’Hagan were on target as the teams went in level at half time (1-4 to 0-7).

 

At the end of normal time a point from Donohoe looked to have won it for Cavan but there was still time for Coleman to save the day for Dungannon.

 

Bizarrely during the both periods of extra-time the only score was O’Hagan’s crucial winning point (0-12 to 1-8).

 

‘The Academy’ have seven of the team that beat Maghera last year and having disposed of St Patrick’s Cavan they will be very keen to one better in 2016.

 

Interestingly both Maghera and Dungannon have shared all the silverware on their way up through the ranks.

 

The Academy won the O'Farrell Cup in first year.  Michael Mullan’s wonder goal helped Maghera beat Dungannon in the D’Alton final a year later in Cookstown.

 

In the Corn nA nOg Final, goals from Cormac O’Hagan and Mark Donnelly spearheaded a 2-7 to 0-9 win over Maghera in Castledawson.

 

A year later, Cormac O’Hagan landed eight points from frees, Mark Donnelly and Mark Quinn bagged goals as Dungannon saw off Cavan after extra time in an epic Brock Cup Final.

 

In Rannafast it was Maghera’s turn.  This time St Colman’s were their opponents under the lights at The Dub.  Five points from Brian Cassidy, 1-3 from Fergal Higgins and a Dara McPeake goal saw Maghera over the line (2-12 to 3-7) in a classic.

 

The Derry men have stuttered their way into this season’s last four.  Despite being backboned by around a dozen of last year’s successful county minor panel they had indifferent league campaign man forcing them into the play-offs.

 

At The Dub without ever being comfortable they looked to have done enough to see off Abbey but when they were hit by a late, late goal, Maghera were left hanging on to win by just the bare minimum.

 

On a wet night in Emyvale they trailed Omagh 1-5 to 0-2 late in the first half.  It looked bleak before the Shane McGuigan and Conor Glass axis sparked the Derry men into life.

 

Maghera blitzed Omagh with a 2-6 barrage in a ruthless thirteen minute spell turning the game on it’s head.  McGuigan with three points, goals from Paddy Quigg and Conal Darragh grabbed the vital scores to setup Friday night’s showdown.

 

Both Lurgan and Bessbrook will have something to say but this is the game everyone wanted to see. Only Cavan in the Brock Cup have came close to breaking the Derry/Tyrone dominance on this age group.

 

Who will make it through to St Patrick’s Day? Will it be fourteen times champions Maghera or five time winners Dungannon? 

 

It is all the ingredients of a classic with every chance of extra-time.

 

Quarter Final Lineups

 

Maghera: S O'Caiside; O McKeever, P Turner, K Feeney; P McCormick, S Downey, C McAllister; C Glass, P Kearney; J Doherty, D McPeake, C Darragh; P Quigg, S McGuigan, F Kearney.

 

Dungannon: D Woods; K Holland, M McKernan, L Rafferty; T Teague, S Corr, M O’Neill; B Crealey, B Kennedy; C O’Hagan, D Kerr, P Donaghy; D Jones, R Coleman, M Donnelly.