St Michael’s College, Enniskillen 0-09

St Patrick’s College, Maghera 2-13

St Michael’s began their MacRory Cup campaign with a defeat to St Patrick’s College, Maghera on Tuesday afternoon in Carrickmore.

The Enniskillen side took the lead three times in the opening 25 minutes but a goal from forward Dara Doherty, with less than five minutes to go in the half, put St Patrick’s ahead and it was a lead they did not relinquish for the remainder of the contest with full-forward Darach McGonigle adding a second goal in the second half as the Derry side ran away with the game after a strong charge from the restart.

St Pat’s landed the opening score through Doherty with three minutes on the clock as his shot dropped and had to be fisted over by goalkeeper Daire Maguire.

Both teams hit wides in the next moments but St Michael’s got on terms when Dara Cathcart sent over his side’s opening score.

Cormac Og McCloskey got out in front of his man and scored on the turn to regain the St Pat’s lead, however, there was again a swift response at the other end as Mattie McDermott evaded two challenges and got off an unbalanced effort that dropped between the posts.

Kian Prior put St Michael’s ahead for the first time in the game as he caught a ball inside from Cathcart and called a mark before stroking over from just inside the 45.

A driving run was matched with a finish from half-back Padraig O’Kane to make it 0-03 apiece after 15 minutes.

A free from Prior dropped short into the square and it was worked to Niall McKenna who hooked over from close range.

A mark from the left-hand side was curled over by the right boot of McCloskey to tie things again with Prior and Padraig Haran then trading scores with the latter converting a 45.

St Pat’s then opted for a man-to-man system for the resultant kick-out and this saw them win the next ball leading to McCloskey kicking his side ahead.

The opening goal came a moment later as Doherty was fed on the run, with space ahead of him, he bore down on goal before firing into the top left corner of the net.

St Pat’s won another St Michael’s kick-out and Haran sent over a final score of the half, 1-07 to 0-05.

The scoring was less frequent in the second half but the Derry team scored three points in the opening ten minutes to take complete control of the game, with points coming from Finbarr McShane, McGonigle and Haran.

A turnover on the St Michael’s 45 saw the ball fed inside to McGonigle who raced through and rasped a shot across goal and it skipped across the greasy surface into the bottom left corner, 2-10 to 0-05.

Gabhan McIvor pointed with St Michael’s then getting off the mark as McDermott’s outside-of-the-boot effort went over following patient build-up play.

Prior landed a free in between McCloskey and McGonigle points and St Michael’s finished the game with a Cathcart score and a Prior free from the floor.