Sport

St Patrick's complete a dramatic comeback

MACRORY CUP (ULSTER COLLEGES SFC) FINAL/St Patrick's 0-13 St Michael's 1-9: ST PATRICK'S of Dungannon won their fourth MacRory…

Tue Mar 18 2008 - 00:00

MACRORY CUP (ULSTER COLLEGES SFC) FINAL/St Patrick's 0-13 St Michael's 1-9:ST PATRICK'S of Dungannon won their fourth MacRory Cup title with a superb comeback victory over St Michael's of Enniskillen at Healy Park yesterday.

A seven-point tally from late replacement Dermot Thornton saw the Tyrone side come from seven points behind to triumph with a stoppage-time winner by substitute Conal McGarrity.

Daryl Keenan's free-kick, deflecting off a post, set up the Enniskillen goal on seven minutes, Brian Cox reacting quickest to seize the rebound, swivel and blast to the roof of the net. They had points from Tomás Corrigan, Keenan and Joe O'Brien, before Patrick Doherty got Dungannon's opening point in the 10th minute.

The Fermanagh students continued to press and almost scored a second goal when Joe O'Brien hit the crossbar.

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A Dungannon flourish yielded points from Seán Murphy and Tiarnan O'Hagan, who finished off a move involving Ciarán Gervin and Dermot Thornton; but, trailing by 1-5 to 0-3 at the break, they had it all to do.

They did it. Gavin Teague was solid at centre back, Niall McKenna and David Lavery took control at midfield, and once Patrick Doherty and O'Hagan started to run at the Enniskillen defence, the alarm bells were ringing. Thornton was deadly accurate from frees, steering over six.

Enniskillen's full back Matthew Donnelly tried everything to turn the contest back in his side's favour, but it was slipping away. A minute remained when Thornton brought the sides level, and Healy Park erupted when McGarrity picked up the rebound after Matthew Jackson had saved from Thornton, and slotted between the posts for a dramatic winner.

ST PATRICK'S, DUNGANNON: N Morgan; B Kelly, L O'Neill, J Loughran; R Pickering, G Teague, D Toner; N McKenna (0-1), D Lavery; S Murphy (0-1), T O'Hagan (0-1), P Doherty (0-1); M McLernon (0-1), D Thornton (0-7, six frees), C Gervin. Subs: C McGarrity (0-1) for McLernon, J Grimley for Lavery.

ST MICHAEL'S, ENNISKILLEN: M Jackson; M Quigley, M Donnelly, C Smyth; R Leonard, PJ Rodgers, N McElroy; R Jones (0-1), R O'Callaghan; M McAleer, D Keenan (0-4, two frees), B Cox (1-0); T Corrigan (0-1), C O'Brien (0-2), J O'Brien (0-1). Subs: G Leonard for McAleer, M Maguire for J O'Brien, P Leonard for R Leonard.

Referee: J McKee (Armagh).