Paddy Lane, Mercy Mounthawk, and Brian Gallagher, Omagh CBS, in action during the Masita GAA Football Post Primary Schools Hogan Cup Final. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Hogan Cup Final
Omagh CBS 3-14 Mercy Mounthawk Tralee 0-11
By Jason O’Connor at Croke Park
Omagh CBS came good in the second-half to retain their Hogan Cup title and win a third for the school in total after three second-half goals were too much for Mercy Mounthawk Tralee.
Despite trailing twice in the first-half they found their form in the second period to show their pre-match fancy as midfielder Charlie Donnelly produced a man-of-the match display.
Throw-in was delayed by 30 minutes due to extra-time in the Hurling encounter beforehand as Donnelly got the first point of the game in the third minute for Omagh, but it was Mounthawk, who made two bursts on the scoreboard during the first period.
Paddy Lane got three points between the fifth and ninth minute to put the Tralee school ahead by 0-3 to 0-1 before Ruairí McCullagh and Eoin Donaghy had the match level by the 15th minute for the defending champions.
Niall Collins and Odhran Ferris gave Mounthawk another advantage on the post, but Omagh were back level by the 25th minute through a McCullagh free and a second point for Donnelly.
The Tyrone school finished the first-half and would start the second-half with 14 men after a black card for McCullagh for a body check on Gary O’Riordan from Mounthawk in the 27th minute. However, they still led by 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time thanks to a free from Liam Óg Mossey before the half-time whistle.
The floodlights came on for the second-half and momentum shone bright for Omagh in finding the back of the net twice in the third quarter to take a decisive grip on the game. In the 40th minute Paudi Dillon took advantage of the ball slipping through Mounthawk defender James Fisher’s hands in finishing from close range as it put Omagh 1-9 to 0-6 ahead.
Then, in the 45th minute an attempt at a point came back off the post and back into play for Dillon to be denied a second by Mounthawk goalkeeper Michael Tansley.
However, Padraig O’Halloran’s clearance was gathered by the since returned McCullagh who put one hand on the Cup again for Omagh at 2-9 to 0-7. In the 55th minute McCullagh got a second goal for himself to make it 3-12 to 0-9.
Omagh goalkeeper Oisín Watson made a late save from Tomas Kennedy in trying to get a consolation for Mounthawk, but the defending champions deservedly retained their title by 12 points in the end.
Scorers for Omagh CBS: Ruairí McCullagh 2-2 (1m), Paudi Dillon 1-3 (1m), Charlie Donnelly 0-5, Eoin Donaghy 0-2, Liam Óg Mossey 0-2 (2fs).
Scorers for Mounthawk: Paddy Lane 0-6 (4fs, 1m) , Odhran Ferris 0-2, Niall Collins 0-1, Seán Corkery 0-1, Tomas Kennedy 0-1 (m).
Omagh CBS: Oisín Watson; Blaine Lynch, Brian Gallagher, Seán McGann; Nathan Farry, Callum Daly, Mark Corcoran; Eoin Donaghy, Charlie Donnelly; OisínTeague, Ruairí McCullagh, Jack Law; Niall McCarney, Paudi Dillon, Liam Óg Mossey
Subs: John Edgar for O Teague (54), Matthew Howe for P Dillon (59), Adrian McGurn for N McCarney (60 +1).
Mercy Mounthawk: Michael Tansley; Gary O’Riordan, Oisín McGibney, James Fisher; Padraig O’Halloran, Oran Murphy, Ben Murphy; Daniel Kirby, Cian O’Gara; Niall Collins, Odhran Ferris, Seán Corkery; Paddy Lane, Tomas Kennedy, Noah Townsend
Subs: Kian Sheehan for N Townsend (50), Ben Sharp for J Fisher, Jake Hoare for C O’Gara (both 55), Tiernan O’Sullivan for S Corkery, Bobby Byrne for P O’Halloran (60).
Referee: David Gough (Meath).