Extra-time heartbreak for Abbey VS against St Pat's, Dungannon in MacRory semi-final

Abbey VS, Donegal Town just failed to make it back to the MacRory Cup final after they suffered extra-time heartbreak in a fantastic semi-final at Pairc Naomh Brid, Trummon.

Despite a gallant display from the likes of Tomás Carr, Thomas Lenihan, Eoghan O'Neill, Aidan Quinn and Alan McHugh, it was the Dungannon side who prevailed when the chips were down.

James Mulgrew was their best player and he had plenty of help with Liam McGeary especially to the fore.

Abbey VS conceded the opening point to Liam McGeary in the first minute but they were soon in the lead thanks to a free moved on when Gethin Mosby was fouled. Thomas Lenihan tapped over.

Tomás Carr then hit a glorious two pointer and quickly followed that up by turning over possession and putting Abbey 4-1 up.

Liam McGeary and James Mulgrew replied with quickfire points and the Abbey goal led a charmed life on 14 minutes when Colm Diver found himself through one-on-one with Lewis McCaughan but the Abbey netminder did really well to save and the rebound was hit wide.

Abbey then dominated the second quarter and they began to find the range once more, especially Thomas Lenihan.

The corner-forward hit one from play and when Conor McCahill was fouled, he pushed the lead out to 0-6 to 0-3 on 23 minutes.

McCahill, fresh from playing for Donegal in Croke Park on Saturday night, pushed the lead further after a St Pat's breach and before half-time Thomas Lenihan and the excellent Tomás Carr added two more for a healthy half-time lead - Abbey VS 0-9, St Pat's, Dungannon 0-3.

The second half was a completely different kettle of fish as St Pat's got on the front foot. Eoin Long hit two pionts in a few minutes but Lewis McCaughan cancelled those with a two point free.

But the Dungannon boys got a great boost when a high ball was dropped and Ross Daly was on hand to fire to the net.

James Mulgrew cut the lead to two  before a McCaughan free gave Abbey some respite.

Dungannon were on terms in the 47th minute when Long hit a two pointer followed by the equaliser from Colm Diver.

It looked bleak for Abbey but they then hit three points in a minute with scores from Tomás Carr and two from substitute Finn Gillespie.

Back came Dungannon with James Mulgrew and Lorcan McMorrow shaving the lead to the bare minimum and when Mulgrew hit a two pointer in the third minute of added time, it looked all over.

But Abbey came again and Conor McCahill won a free for Thomas Lenihan to send the contest to extra-time.

The Abbey VS starting team Pic Matthew Harvey

Against the breeze St Pat's made the better start to extra-time with points from Darragh Devlin and James Mulgrew but Tomás Carr cancelled those scores with a two pointer. Liam McGeary pushed St Pat's ahead again but Conor McCahill hit a leveller to leave it still all square at the end of the first period - 0-19 to 1-16.

In the second period St Pat's proved the stronger with Mulgrew and Lorcan McMurray pushing them two clear. Abbey just couldn't enough ball but Christian Ward cut the lead to the minimum with a minute left.

St Pat's finished strong again with further points from Aodhan Quinn and Liam McGeary while Abbey lost Thomas Lenihan to a straight red card.

Abbey VS scorers: Tomás Carr 0-7,2tp; Thomas Lenihan 0-5,3f; Lewis McCaughan 0-3,1tpf,1f; Finn Gillespie 0-2; Conor McCahill 0-2,1f; Christian Ward 0-1.

St Pat's, Dungannon scorers: James Mulgrew 0-7,1tp; Liam McGeary 0-4; Eoin Long 0-4,1tp; Ross Daly 1-0; Lorcan McMurray 0-2; Colm Diver, Darragh Devlin, Aodhan Quinn 0-1 each.

Abbey VS, Donegal: Lewis McCaughan; Eoghan O'Neill, Ethan McCrea, Jack McGroarty; Aidan Quinn, Patrick McGonigle, Cian Gavigan; Tomás Carr, Conall Flannery; Alan O'Neill, Conor McCahill, Christian Ward; Thomas Lenihan, Gethin Mosby, Eoghan Gallagher.

Subs: Finn Gillespie for Mosby ht; Conor Griffin for Flannery 48. Extra time: Jake Quinn for McHugh; Oisin Ebbs for McGroarty

St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon: Ronan Donnelly; Charlie Mulligan, Matthew Daly, Paddy Park; Colm Diver,  Ross Daly, Davin McKeown; James Mulgrew, Michael Hughes; Darragh Devlin, Aodhan Quinn, Jonah Feeney; Ryan Biggs, Eoin Long, Liam McGeary.

Subs: Lorcan McMurray for Biggs; Ruairi O'Neill and Jayden Watt for Ross Daly and Jonah Feeney both 58. Extra time: Odhran Scally for Colm Diver; Odhran Carroll for McKeown

Referee: Paul Gallagher (Aghyaran)