Second-half push puts Pat’s in clear
The Tyrone side had the better of things in the first half and deservedly led by two points at the break, but five unanswered scores on the restart put holders Omagh in the driving seat.
The key moment of the game came in controversial circumstances when Maghera full-forward Danny Tallon scored a 44th-minute goal despite having bounced the ball twice. That left the winners five in front and they never looked back.
The sides shared the opening four points, with Sean McGale, Jack Doherty, Conor Cassidy and Conan McElduff among the scorers for their respective sides, with Tallon and Conor Convery both having goal chances for Maghera early on.
Convery put Maghera in front but then full-forward McElduff struck for a superb individual goal.
The holders responded through team captain Peter Hagan and Tallon to draw level, but Omagh had the final say of the half with keeper Packie O’Neill converting a 45 and Aidan McSorley on target from play to send them in at the break 1-5 to 0-6 ahead.
Things could have been even better for the Tyrone lads but for a breathtaking double save from Maghera keeper Ciarán McCoy.
Within two minutes of the restart Maghera drew level through Paul McAtamney and Paul Gunning before Convery gave them a lead they never lost.
Convery and Caolan McNeill added to their advantage and while James Darcy responded for Omagh, Tallon’s goal for St Pat’s pushed them well clear.
Ronan McHugh and Gunning traded points before Omagh were denied a penalty when McElduff’s shot was foot-blocked by McNeill.
It wasn’t given and it is Maghera who go forward to the Hogan Cup semi-final.
Scorers for St Pat’s Maghera: D Tallon 1-2, C Convery 0-3 (1f), P Gunning 0-2, C McNeill, P Hagan, C Cassidy, J Doherty, P McAtamney (f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Omagh CBS: C McElduff 1-1, J Darcy 0-2, P O’Neill (45), S McGale, A McSorley, R McHugh, G Slane (f) 0-1 each.
ST PAT’S, MAGHERA: C McCloy; P McNeil, O Hegarty, C McNeill; C O’Doherty, P Hagan, C Mulholland; C Glass, C Cassidy; J Doherty, P McAtamney, M McGrath; P Gunning, D Tallon, C Convery.
Subs: B Cassidy for Gunning, L O’Hara for Hagan.
OMAGH CBS: P O’Neill; C McQuaid, C McCann, D Mullan; R Samir, S McGale, E Murray; J Darcy, B McDonnell; A McSorley, J Colton, R McHugh; M Coreless, C McElduff, G Slane.
Subs: O McGinn for McGale, P Teague for McHugh, P McGirr for McSorley, A Fullerton for McGirr.
Referee: C Branagan (Down).
