St Michael’s Ronan Beattie
It has been a disappointing start for St Michael’s in the opening games of their Rannafast Cup campaign, the college slipping to successive defeats in their first two fixtures.
They began with a derby clash with Omagh CBS, the game played at Trillick and they were to lose this tie by a six point margin on a scoreline of 2-11 to 1-8.
The Enniskillen boys played their best football in the first 3 minutes though they were to reach the interval trailing on a scoreline of 1-6 to 0-4, Eoghan Curran and Timmy Boyd the marksmen.
Over the second half however Omagh were to gain a firmer grip and it was not until close to the finish that an outgunned St Michael’s side were to pick up a consolation goal from Darragh McGurn.
For St Michael’s defenders Shane McGullion at centre back and Nathan Tierney at full back were the more notable performers.
Agonising late defeat
Second game on the schedule came on Thursday 25th a tussle with St Mary’s Magherafelt at Killyclogher and this was to end in an agonising last second defeat on a scoreline of 3-14 to 4-10, the Derry side grabbing a dramatic winner with a goal from the final play of the game.
St Michael’s essentially paid the price of a limp first half display which saw them arrive at the interval trailing on a scoreboard of 2-8 to 0-4.
They had however been facing into a considerable breeze and with the assistance of this after the changeover they were to step up the tempo for the remainder of the contest.
Gaining a lot of possession around the middle of the park St Michaels managed to channel a lot of ball into their attack and the scores began to flow for them.
Leading light was Jacob Britton who thumped in a hat trick and with a flow of points also tagged on they cut down the deficit though Magherafelt with isolated points in response were not to be overhauled until a few minutes from time.
A fourth St Michael’s goal, this one from Timmy Boyd edged the team into the lead but they were to be caught out by a last gasp St Mary’s raid which saw the Derry college nick a dramatic final goal to slip home by the minimum margin.
For St Michael’s Eoghan Curran was again a forceful figure with Ronan Beattie at wing back one of the driving forces in the second half revival and the energetic Britton starred in the attack.
No game is programmed for this current week and next up is a fixture with St Pius Magherafelt in the week commencing Monday October 6th.