All-Donegal MacRory semi-final awaits Donegal Southwest following win over Omagh CBS

This Donegal Southwest team simply refuses to give in. 

In fact, they showed courage and character in buckets in coming from behind twice to dump out the reigning MacRory and Hogan Cup winners on their home pitch in a cracking encounter. 

Super sub Patrick O’Donnell was the hero as he got on the end of a lightning move to bury the ball into the roof of the Omagh CBS net in the 63rd minute which raised a huge roar from their big support. 

It looked like another sub, Shane Sweeney had snatched victory for Donegal Southwest when he landed a wonderful point in the 59th minute, but Armagh referee Enda Mallon gave a very dubious free kick to Omagh, and their outstanding full-forward Adrian McGurn’s shot was deflected over the bar to level the match at 1-7 each. 

That was heartbreaking for South West who, at one point in the first half, trailed by five points, but instead of taking a draw and maybe extra time they went for broke, and fortune often favours the brave. 

Omagh, who controlled the game for long periods in the opening half, lost their discipline in those final frenetic moments as they lost Michael McNamee to a black card and Thomas Meehan to a red card. 

When the final whistle went, it was stamped that it’ll now be an all-Donegal MacRory Cup semi-final when Southwest takes on Abbey VS in the semi-final next weekend in Ballyshannon. 

It also means that it’ll be the first time a Donegal side will compete in a MacRory Cup final since St Eunan’s College back in 1961. 

Southwest went into an early lead when goalkeeper Patrick McBride lofted over a fine point from 40 metres, but this was quickly cancelled by a point from the brilliant McGurn. 

Luke Clerkin extended Southwest’s lead with a well-struck long-range point, but Omagh’s centre-back Brian Gallagher strode up the field to level matters in the seventh minute. 

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A well-drilled Omagh side took over and Southwest failed to score for 17 minutes. 

It looked grim as Harley Patton pointed and McGurn quickly added a point before slamming home a fine goal after a seven-man move in the 12th minute. 

Ahead, by 1-4 to 0-2, Omagh looked to be cruising but Danny Brown calmed matters when he converted a free, and then, in the 25th minute, Southwest got their goal when Alex Cunnea hit a great diagonal ball to Darragh Hennigan on the edge of the square. 

Hennigan used his natural power and physique to field the ball, round a defender, and hit a low drive to the net to leave just a point in it at the break as Omagh led by 1-4 to 1-3. 

The third quarter of this game was pretty turgid stuff with McGurn hitting a superb effort with the outside of the boot to put Omagh into a 1-5 to 1-3 lead. 

Southwest defended well in this period and Shane Callaghan narrowed the gap with a pointed free. But Peter Colton made it a two-point game for Omagh with a fine effort in the 40th minute. 

Callaghan landed another free as things got hotter coming into the last quarter. 

Southwest attacked but hit two bad wides before Max Campbell landed a superb effort to tie matters at 1-6 each, five minutes from time. 

Omagh had lost McNamee to a black card at this stage as Southwest drove for a winner and Sweeney landed what looked to be the clincher. But there was to be more drama with McGurn’s free levelling matters. 

However Southwest thundered up the field like an irresistible tide to hit the winning score and advance to the semi-final. 

Donegal Southwest scorers: Darragh Hennigan and Patrick O’Donnell 1-0 each; Shane Callaghan 0-2, 2fs; Luke Clerkin, Danny Brown 1f, Shane Sweeney, Max Campbell, Patrick McBride 0-1 each. 
Omagh CBS scorers: Adrian McGurn 1-5, 2fs; Brian Gallagher and Patrick Colton 0-1; 

Donegal Southwest: Patrick McBride; Cathal McGee, Thomas McDevitt, Aaron Neely; Cathal Gallagher, Jordi Gribben, Max Campbell; Darragh Hennigan, Luke Clerkin; Ethan Byrne, Cianan McDaid, Alex Cunnea; Liam Breathnach, Shane Callaghan, Danny Brown. Subs; Eoghan Ban McNelis and Patrick O’Donnell for Liam Breathnach and Danny Brown (both 34), Shane Sweeney for Ethan Byrne (46). 

Omagh CBS: Oisin Watson; Jack Garland, Oisin McCrenor, Owen Griffiths; Michael McNamee, Brian Gallagher, Sean McCann; Enda Donaghy, Thomas Meehan; Harley Patton, Fergal McGurn, Mark Kennedy; Conan Hegarty, Adrian McGurn, Peter Colton. Subs: Patrick Goodman for Harley Patton (37), Dermot Martin for Conan Hegarty (46). 

Referee: Enda Mallon (Armagh)