Abbey VS show great grit to defeat St Colman's and reach MacRory semi-final

Abbey VS, Donegal Town were made to fight to the bitter end as they overcame St Colman's, Newry to reach the semi-final of the MacRory Cup at the Donegal Training Centre, Convoy.

The Donegal Town, dominated by the Four Masters club players, were never headed but St Colman's will rue many missed  chances and especially not raising a flag of any kind in the opening half.

The Newry side did show their fighting qualities in the second half but again their shooting let them down and they can have no complaints at the final result.

Abbey, despite playing against the breeze, were at their brilliant best in the opening quarter as they led 0-4 to  0-0 after 14 minutes. Tomás Carr got them going with a superb point from 40m. They then won the kick-out and the Carrs set up Conor McCahill for the second.

Eoghan Gallagher added the third before Tomás Carr, with another delightful effort, kicked the fourth.

St Colman's had plenty of chances in the second quarter as both sides turned over ball. Aaron Garvey was almost in for a goal and Corey Clerkin was denied by a great save by Lewis McCaughan.

It looked as if they would get a point when Dylan Cunningham won a mark on 30m but he dropped his effort short.

The impressive Kevin Muldoon on the ball for Abbey VS against St Colman's Picture Thomas Gallagher

There were two minutes and 50 seconds on the second half clock when Ross Marsden finally got the Newry side on the scoreboard. But despite having plenty of possession, they continued to add to their first half tally of six wides.

Still Colman's were looking dangerous and they were just two points adrift when Aaron Garvey pointed on 47 minutes.

But two minutes later Abbey got the first goal of the game and it was a spectacular run by Conor McCahill. He went almost the length of the field,  played a one-two with Tiarnan McBride and slid the ball past the Colman's 'keeper with his right.

St Colman's responded with points from Aaron Garvey (free) and Eoin Duffy. Theo Colhoun won a free for Oisin Doherty to leave it 1-5 to 0-4 with four minutes of normal time left.

St Colman's needed a goal and after taking a free short on 58 minutes, Corey Clerkin drove low past a crowded goalmouth to the net.

The Abbey VS response was the winning of the game. Kevin Muldoon won the kick-out and Tomás Carr drove over a good point.  Muldoon then went on another run and was hauled down by Aaron Garvey, who was black carded. Oisin Doherty pointed the free to leave it 1-7 to 1-4.

St Colman's tried to get a second goal but all they could manage was a point from an Eoin Duffy free. There was a small melee near the end of the contest when tempers became flared and Kevin Rose of Abbey was shown a black card. 

But Abbey VS held on to create another piece of history in reaching the MacRory semi-final for the first time in their very first year in the competition.

Abbey VS scorers: Conor McCahill 1-1; Tomás Carr 0-3; Oisin Doherty 0-2,2f; Eoghan Gallagher 0-1.

St Colman's Newry scorers: Corey Clerkin 1-0; Aaron Garvey (1f), Eoin Duffy (1f) 0-2 each; Ross Marsden 0-1.

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

Subs: Ethan McCrea for A Quinn (15); Kevin Rose for Brogan (48); Darragh Griffin for E Gallagher (57)

St Colman's, Newry: Niall Howlett; Caolan McGinley, Cian Wilson, Oisin  Murphy; Ruairi McAvoy, Aaron Garvey, Aaron Haughey; Martin McKinley, Dylan Cunningham; Corey Clerkin, Eoin Braniff, Harry Fearon; Ross Marsden, Shea Begley, Eoin Duffy.

Subs: Conor Armstrong for Begley (38); Ryan Cookson for Marsden (47); James Moriarty for Fearon (59); Nathan Caulfield for Braniff (60+1)

Referee: Gavin Hegarty (Derry)