Sport

Good day for Armagh football

St Patrick's, Armagh turned in a superb second-half show at Casement Park yesterday to take the MacRory Cup from the holders, …

Sat Mar 18 2000 - 00:00

St Patrick's, Armagh turned in a superb second-half show at Casement Park yesterday to take the MacRory Cup from the holders, St Michael's, Enniskillen, in an absorbing Bank of Ireland final.

The goal which earned St Patrick's victory was scored by Sean Cavanagh just two minutes from time and gave them the title for the first time in 47 years.

St Michael's played the more fluent football during the first half, with some swift passing movements. The attack caused headaches for the St Patrick's defence and in the seventh minute a threeman surge ended with Ryan Keenan firing in a goal.

That left St Michael's 1-2 to 0-1 ahead, but with full forward Ronan Clarke roving out to midfield, St Patrick's got back into the game and got their opening goal in the 12th minute, Clarke setting Mal Mackin up in front of the posts.

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The holders led by 1-5 to 1-3 at the break, but St Patrick's were a transformed side in the second half. After 42 minutes they went ahead for the first time when Liam O'Hare hammered the ball to the net after a shot from Cavanagh was brilliantly blocked by the Enniskillen goalkeeper.

Five minutes later St Michael's were back in front and the teams were level again in both the 48th and 57th minutes before the Armagh boys struck for glory. It was Cavanagh who snatched the winning score when he tore through the St Michael's defence for a great solo goal.

ST PATRICK'S, ARMAGH: J Hearty; R O'Neill, C Rafferty, S Lennon; F Moriarty, P Grimes, K Beagan; B Comiskey, M Slevin; L O'Hare (1-1), S Cavanagh (1-1), B Mullan; M Mackin (1-1), R Clarke (0-1), P Quigley (0-2). Sub: B Smyth for Mullin (half-time).

ST MICHAEL'S, DUNGANNON: D McKeogh; P Sherry, B Owens, P Gunn; N Cunningham, K McCaughey (0-1), J McGovern; M McGrath (0-1), K Rooney (0-3); D Lunny, G O'Donnell (0-1), S Teague; P Melanaphy, S McCabe (0-2), R Keenan (1-1). Subs: B Rice for Melanaphy (36 mins), D Shannon for O'Donnell (40 mins), R Dundas for Lunny (58 mins).

Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).

St Eunan's, Letterkenny collected the Dr MacLarnon Cup at Casement Park yesterday with a 1-11 to 1-9 win over St Columb's, Derry. The winners got off to a flying start and led by 0-7 to 0-0 after 19 minutes, and they were ahead at half-time by 0-8 to 0-3.

The star of the show was the winners' roving full forward Colm McFadden, who accounted for a goal and eight points, his goal coming in the 58th minute.