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Mon 7th Feb 2011
St Patrick's Academy Dungannon 3-12 St Patrick's Armagh 1-9
A goal from Harry óg Conlon right on the stroke of half-time opened up a gap that St Patrick’s Armagh could not close during the second half and St Patrick’s Academy moved through to the BT MacRory Cup semi-finals later in the month.
Set up by Stefan Lavery, Conlon added a second goal 6 minutes into the second half as the Academy threatened to run away with the tie, ahead now by 2-8 to 0-6.
However Armagh sent in All-Ireland minor winner Paul McGeown and he brought a superb stop from Mark McReynolds, before James McLaughlin eventually breached the Academy defence for a goal in the 38th minute. With Tom Murphy adding his sixth point soon after and McGeown stroking over a free, it certainly looked as if Armagh could reel the 2009 champs in.
But defender Ryan Jones came up to add a point and in the 50th minute David O’Hagan had to dive full-length to parry Ryan Devlin’s effort as the Academy responded.
Devlin came back with a point, which McGeown cancelled at the other end, before Liam Gervin made sure of victory for his side with 2 points.
He then topped off a good individual performance by intercepting Tom Murphy’s pass to race through and fire home his side’s third goal in the 57th minute. This was an entertaining game played in rainy conditions and the standard of football was always quite high.
In an evenly-balanced opening half, 3 points from Gervin, and 2 from Ryan Devlin were matched by 3 from Tom Murphy and 2 from Conor McNally.
However a couple of late points and that very late Conlon goal left the Academy 1-7 to 0-6 ahead at the turnover. While Armagh provided a stern enough test, the Academy’s experienced players – Shea McGarrity, Gervin, Harry óg – stood up and delivered, suggesting that they will be difficult to beat as St Patrick’s Day closes in.
Academy : M McReynolds, R Jones 0-1, S Molloy, M McAleer, E Deeney, S McGarrity, S Quinn, C McFaul, H og Conlon 2 1, D Quinn 0-2, K Morgan, L Gervin 1-5, S Lavery, R Devlin 0-3, P Barker.
Subs : A McGarrity for D Quinn, J Carbery for S McGarrity, S Corr for K Morgan.
Armagh : D O’Hagan, M Jones, C Hoey, C McCormick, C O’Neill, C White, M Carson, D McQuaide, P Campbell, S McCoy, J McLaughlin 1-0, T Murphy 0-4, R McShane, C Mac Iomhaire 0-1, C McNally 0-2.
Subs : R Kearns for P Campbell, P McGeown 0-2 for M McShane, M McShane for S McCoy, J McCooe for R Kearns.
Referee : G Walsh (Antrim).
Submitted by: Seamus McAleenan
