St Michael's take third group defeat after St Ronan's loss

St Michael’s fell to their third defeat on the trot to a most impressive St Ronan’s Lurgan in Augher on Saturday.

Peter Teague’s side can have few complaints as they were outgunned by a very well- drilled clinical Armagh side who are loaded with physique, power and pace.

But the Fermanagh college were once again wasteful in front of posts- hitting 13 wides- many of them scorable and their shot selection was pretty poor.

The visitors had the benefit of an early freak goal which gave them a solid platform playing into a stiffish breeze in the opening half.

But their transition, movement and accuracy up front were most impressive with excellent wing back James McCooe hitting four great points.

St Michael’s needed to get quick ball into dangermen Mattie McDermott and Conor Mulligan up front, but both were well marshalled by a very well-organized Lurgan defence.

St Ronan’s opened the scoring with a fine point into the breeze from Niall McParland- before disaster struck the Enniskillen college after five minutes.

A weak shot from Lurgan midfielder Adam Furphy was fumbled by Enniskillen keeper Tommy Watson and the ball fell to the other midfielder Jake Bowman, who had a simple tap-in.

James McCooe arced over a delightful point for the winners before the hard-working Dan O’Connor got Michael’s off the mark after 10 minutes.

Luke McAnespie made it 1-2 to 0-2 but St Michaels’s also posted three wides in this period.

McCooe and Conor Mulligan then swapped points before McCooe and Ryan McAlinden added more points to make it 1-06 to 0-03 by the 22nd minute.

Dara Cathcart broke though for the Enniskillen side-but his goal bound rasper, was smartly tipped over the bar by Lurgan keeper Liam Carroll.

Furphy landed a left-footed point for the winners and Kian Prior responded leaving Lurgan leading by 1-07 to 0-05 at the break.

St Michael’s made a number of changes at the break- but the pattern of play continued as McAlinden, McCooe and Conor Watson pushed Lurgan to a 1-10 to 0-07 lead.

McAlinden goaled for Lurgan which effectively sealed the deal as their keeper Liam Carroll made s superb save from St Michael’s Dan O’Connor at the other end.

Both sides ran their benches, and the impressive Ronan Rasdale looked promising for Michael’s.

But it was all Lurgan who hit clinching points from Euan McAreavey and Beaumont with Rasdale replying with a converted free for St Michael’s.

McDermott got a point for St Michael’s and had a goal bound shot saved- which perfectly summed up the Enniskillen sides day.

They now meet the winners of the other section- a huge task in the circumstances.