St Mary’s finish strongly to beat Fermanagh

Students produce late show to produce surprise win

Fermanagh and St Mary’s play in foggy conditions in Brewster Park. Pghotograph: John McVitty/Presseye/Inpho
Fermanagh and St Mary’s play in foggy conditions in Brewster Park. Pghotograph: John McVitty/Presseye/Inpho

St Mary's 3-8 Fermanagh 1-10

A strong finish helped St Mary's to a surprise victory over Fermanagh in the McKenna Cup last night. The students scored 1-2 in the last two minutes, the goal from substitute Aidan McGarrity, in the dense fog at Brewster Park. Seamie Quigley hit five early points as Fermanagh coasted into a 0-6 to 0-0 lead after 20 minutes.

St Mary's were slow to settle. Conor McCann scored a goal for the students in the 23rd minute to get them going. Former Tyrone minor star Thomas Canavan scored two brilliant left-footed points from play and Armagh panellist Aidan Forker was also on target as the visitors led 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.

Canavan, a nephew of former Fermanagh boss Peter, helped to inspire the students when he converted a free and then drilled St Mary’s second goal into the roof of the net after 50 minutes.

Fermanagh had a good last quarter, Seamie Quigley converting a penalty he won himself after St Mary’s defender Niall Donnelly pulled him down, which resulted in the only black card of the game in the 57th minute.

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Quigley then fired over a monster free to put Fermanagh briefly back in the lead before the students’ lively finish.


FERMANAGH: C Snow; J Woods, N Cassidy, M O'Brien; D McCusker, B Mulrone, C Quigley; R Jones (0-1), S McElrone; T Daly, N McIlroy, C Jones (0-1); R Ormsby, Seamie Quigley (1-7, 1-0 pen, 0- 2f), P McCusker. Subs: Sean Quigley (0-1) for N McElroy (43), J Love for C Jones (43), M McAleer for Daly (59), A Boyle for P McCusker (65).
ST MARY'S: D McAnenly; A Maguire, N Donnelly, M Murray; C McCann (1-0), R Loughran, C McMahon (0-1); P Carragher (0-1), E Bradley; R O'Callaghan (0-1), A Forker (0-1), J Duffy; B O'Hagan, B Hasson (0-1), T Canavan (1-3, 0-1f). Subs: R Sexton for Bradley, R Johnston for McCann (both 44), A McGarrity (1-0) for O'Hagan (51), K McKernan for Donnelly (58), T McCaffrey for Duffy (67)
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).