Abbey VS lose their way in second half as they fall to St Paul's, Bessbrook

After an impressive opening win in the MacRory Cup against St Pat’s, Dungannon, Abbey VS, Donegal town suffered defeat against a dogged St Paul’s, Bessbrook,  in their second game after dominating the opening half.

The game was fixed for Garvaghey in Tyrone but was switched late on to St Paul's of Lurgan which meant a really long journey for the Donegal  Town boys.

They made light of the switch in the early stages as they threatened to blow St Paul's away but a black card at the end of both halves coupled with a lacklustre second half performance saw them beaten in the end.

They were a goal and a point  up before the third minute with Kevin Muldoon pointing and then intercepting the kick-out to send Conor McCahill through to find the net. The Donegal Town boys had other chances before Adam Reavey and Fergal Boylan (free) got St Paul's on the board.

Turlough Carr, who was outstanding in  the opening half, added a point and then combined with Kevin Muldoon for a second Abbey goal on 19 minutes. Eoghan O'Neill made a terrific block at the other end before Ronan Martin posted a point for St Paul's.

Conor McCahill was just over with another point while St Paul's were awarded a point that was clearly wide  minutes later.

The Donegal Town side lost Eoghan Gallagher to injury but still dominated with Kevin Muldoon firing low and wide before Tomas Carr fired over a magnificent point on 21 minutes. A minute later Carr picked up a black card but it didn't  impact much with Conor McCahill getting the only other point of the half to leave it 2-5 to 0-4 at the break.

Abbey VS before the game Picture: Thomas Gallagher

But it was a different story in the second half as St Paul's came out in a blaze of glory. Ronan  Martin  had a point from  a free in the first minute and the Abbey goal led a charmed life for the next five minutes with one shot being deflected just around the post for a '45' while Daniel McGinty somehow saved another shot on the line with the 'keeper beaten.

The  Bessbrook side had five wides in  six minutes and the pressure paid off as Fergal Boylan hit a point and then intercepted the kick-out to fire home his side's first goal and the lead was down to two points.

It  looked as if Abbey had weathered the storm when Tomás Carr hit a glorious free kick and Kevin Muldoon won the kick-out to power through and fire home a third goal.

But St Paul's kept the foot down and they had the momentum. Shay Loughran had a point and Fionn Toal got forward for their second goal on 46 minutes. Tiarnan Brown and a Fergal Boylan free had them on terms before Boylan edged them ahead for the first time in the game on 51 minutes.

Kevin Muldoon, who worked  tirelessly throughout, pulled Abbey level but their defence was not able to cope with the waves of attack from St Paul's. Fionn Toal got up again to fire home his second and St Paul's third goal and late points from Shay Loughan and Eoin Kane sealed the win. Abbey lost full-back Daniel McGinty to black in the final minute.

It was a lesson for the  Abbey VS boys in losing concentration. They got a few tough calls from referee Paul Faloon in the second half, one of which led to the second goal. But they were unable to adapt when the momentum went against them.

Conor McCahill of Abbey VS on the ball during the MacRory Cup game Picture: Thomas Gallagher

Abbey VS scorers:  Kevin Muldoon 2-2; Conor McCahill 1-2; Tomás Carr 0-2,1f; Turlough Carr 0-1.

St Paul's scorers: Fergal  Boylan 1-4,3f; Fionn Toal 2-0; Ronan Martin 0-2,1f; Shay Loughran 0-2; Adam Reavey, Donal Coffey, Tiarnan Brown,  Eoin Kane 0-1 each.

Abbey VS, Donegal Town: Lewis McCaughan; Eoghan O'Neill, Daniel McGinty, Terence McGovern; Cian Gavigan, Patrick McGonigle, Oisin Brogan; Tiarnan McBride, Theo Colhoun; Kevin Muldoon, Turlough Carr, Tomás Carr; Conor McCahill, Oisin Doherty, Eoghan Gallagher.

Subs: Thomas Lenehan for E Gallagher (inj 21); Darragh Griffin for Lenehan (51)

St Paul's, Bessbrook: Tom Beatty; Micheal Kane, David Crilly, Gavin  O'Rourke; Fionn Toal, Eoghan McKeever, Adam Reavey; Daithi O'Callaghan, Donal Cullen; Tiarnan Brown, Eoin Kane, Kian Rigley; Ronan Martin, Fergal Boylan, Shay  Loughran.

Subs: Jarlath O'Neill, Tomas Fox and Oisin Cunningham for Rigley, Kane and Brown.

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)