A superb display of fluent football swept St Michael's, Enniskillen, to victory over the holders St Colman's, Newry, in yesterday's MacRory Cup final at sunny Casement Park.
The Enniskillen team turned on the power-play right from the start with three points in the opening three minutes and continued to put pressure on St Colman's right to the end. The winners scored four excellent goals, taken with a precision and accuracy which would put many senior players to shame.
Colm Bradley, at full forward, was Enniskillen's best player, as his running and score-taking tortured the Newry defence. Midfielder Martin McGrath was generally in control of the sector despite some good work by Liam Doyle of St Colman's. The winners' defence was rock solid.
The first goal was taken by Bradley in the 27th minute when he pounced on a loose ball to leave St Michael's 1-9 to 0-6 ahead at the interval. Bradley struck again two minutes after the restart as he ran on to a free kick which Niall Keenan floated over the St Colman's defence.
The third and fourth St Michael's goals were picture scores and the result of great vision. Team captain and corner back Ciaran Smith raced up-field to take a brilliant inside pass from Gary Maguire in the 41st minute and rocketed the ball home from 10 metres.
The fourth goal was even better as Paul Melanaphy battled hard to win possession on the left, passed to Shane McCabe who found Paddy O'Flanagan in the middle and the Devenish player finished to the net.
St Michael's: D McKeogh; C Smith (1-0), B Owens, G McManus; F Donnelly (0-1), N Keenan, C Moane; M McGrath (0-1), C Boyle (0-2); G Maguire, C Monaghan, P O'Flanagan (1-0); S McCabe (0-1), C Bradley (2-4), P Melanaphy (0-2). Subs: K McCaughey for Owens (6 mins).
St Colman's: P Cunningham; N Doyle, C Murtagh, N Byrne; D Murphy, B Kearney, P McGivern; D McGovern, L Doyle (0-4); P Hynes, G Digney (0-2), S Allen (0-1); J Cowan (0-1), A Fegan (0-4), C Byrne. Subs: H Davey for C Byrne (35 mins); A Grant for McGovern (36 mins), R Carragher for Grant inj (60 mins).
Referee: M Convery (Derry).
St Michael's made it a double victory at Casement Park yesterday when the Enniskillen students set the scene in the Cornnan-Og football decider with a merited 213 to 0-8 win over St Patrick's, Armagh.
Scorers: St Michael's - C Little (2-1), J O'Flanagan (0-3), P Magee, A McDermott, K McGarry, D Ward (0-2 each), K Gallagher (0-1). St Patrick's - G Traynor (0-5), C Clarke, C McCaffrey, N Loney (0-1 each).
