Abbey VS into MacRory Cup final after win over Donegal Southwest

Abbey VS, Donegal Town are creating more history for themselves with a deserved victory over Donegal Southwest in an all-Donegal Danske Bank MacRory Cup semi-final in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon.

The Donegal Town school were magnificent in the first half against the breeze with Turlough Carr outstanding for the winners. The attendance of 1,500 were treated to a good contest with perfect conditions in the opening half although there was a blustery shower of rain at the start of the second half which caused some trouble for the players.

Abbey VS led 0-7 to 0-3 at the break and were very dominant in the opening half with Tiarnan McBride and Conor McCahill very central to the win. Oisin Doherty also proved his worth and Kevin Muldoon was their standout performer in the second half.

Abbey VS were playing against the wind in the opening half but made light of conditions to dominate the half, especially through the work of Turlough Carr and Tiarnan McBride. 

Conor McCahill put them on their way with the opening point on five minutes and Kevin Muldoon drove through to win a free for McCahill to add the second.

Donegal Southwest got on the board with a good score from Alex Cunnea but it was Abbey who were dominating possession. Turlough Carr found Oisin Doherty in space to add a third point on 10 minutes and Tomás Carr found McCahill with pinpoint accuracy for the third two minutes later.

It was 0-5 to 0-1 on 22 minutes when Turlough Carr released Kevin Muldoon on one of his typical runs. He was fouled and Oisin Doherty pointed the free.

Aaron Neely chipped in with a point for Southwest on 25 minutes but Abbey responded again with a magnificent run from Eoghan Gallagher and a good finish while Cian Gavigan released Conor McCahill to chip over his fourth point of the game.

Just before the break Donegal Southwest added a third point when a Shane Callaghan effort dropped short but was allowed to hop and Cathal Gallagher got a touch to leave it 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.

Southwest needed a spark and Shane Callaghan got them going with a quick point at the start of the second half. He added a second from a free and the lead was down to two.

Eoghan Gallagher replied for Abbey with his second of the match but Southwest  substitute Patrick O'Donnell, who was their hero in the quarter-final, hit a point just after coming on.

Abbey needed a boost and it was no surprise that it was Turlough Carr who fired over from distance and Oisin Doherty repeated the act a minute later.

Great work by the Kevin Muldoon saw Oisin Doherty put Abbey five ahead with 49 minutes on the clock.

Alex Cunnea pulled a point back but a Turlough Carr free from 45m left it 0-12 to 0-7 on 51 minutes.

It was then backs to the wall for Abbey as Southwest put on a surge. Shane Callaghan added a free as Abbey pulled their troops back. On 60 minutes Aaron Neely cut the lead to three; Shane Callaghan was wide with a free but with three of the five added minutes played Danny Brown had the deficit to two.

But they were unable to get the goal they needed and Abbey VS are the Donegal team making history.

Abbey VS scorers: Conor McCahill 0-4,1f; Oisin Doherty 0-4,1f; Turlough Carr 0-2,1f; Eoghan Gallagher 0-2.

Donegal Southwest scorers: Shane Callaghan 0-3,2f; Alex Cunnea, Aaron Neely 0-2 each; Cathal Gallagher, Patrick O'Donnell, Danny Brown (f) 0-1 each.

Abbey VS: 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 Quinn (16); Darragh Griffin and Kevin Rose for Brogan and E Gallagher (both 59)

Donegal Southwest: Padraig McBride; Cathal MacAoidh, Thomas McDevitt, Aaron Neely; Cathal O Gallchoir, Jordi Gribben, Max Campbell; Darragh Hennigan,  Luke Clerkin; Ethan Byrne, Cianan McDaid, Alex Cunnea; Eoghan Ban McNelis, Shane Callaghan, Shane Sweeney.

Subs: Danny Brown, Patrick O'Donnell for McNelis and S Sweeney (both 38); Oisin Diver and Liam Breathnach for Byrne and McDevitt (both 58).

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Donegal)