ABBEY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL booked their place in a first ever Danske Bank Markey Cup final thanks to a heroic win over Bailieboro Community School in this evening’s semi-final replay at Garvaghey.
Abbey Vocational School 2-10 Bailieboro Community School 1-08
Pauric O’Donnell’s team came good at just the right time to take the win, scoring 1-3 in the final ten minutes.
Aaron Cundelan’s goal, three minutes into the second half, had put Bailieboro four in front, after the sides were level at half-time.
In horrible conditions, Abbey shook their heads clear, but it wasn’t until Daneil Gallagher arched over a clever point in the 50th minute that they were level again.
Jack Keaney scored 1-5, including a goal from a penalty after four minutes, and he set up Gallagher for the second Abbey goal two minutes from the end.
Keaney, Daniel Brennan and Keaney again, this time from a wonderful long-range point, had Abbey in the mix after they were rocked by the concession of Cundelan’s goal.
Cundelan rounded Aaron McCrea before sailing a deft effort over the head of Abbey goalkeeper Gavin Mulreaney and into the net. It was rough justice on Abbey and the signs didn’t look good at that point.
Brennan and Neil Ward both had goal chances snuffed out by tenacious Bailieboro defending, but the equaliser by Gallagher, who was excellent throughout for the winners, spurred the late purple patch.
After Bailieboro ‘keeper Stephen O’Reilly managed to scramble away a shot from Neil Ward, Keaney superbly sailed over the resulting ’45.
When Keaney lifted the ball around the back to give Gallagher a goal chance, the nifty corner forward made no mistake, powerfully smashing past O’Reilly from a difficult angle on the right-hand side.
A Keaney free made safe the win, while a late Bailieboro free by Rory Farrell saw him go for goal, but McCrea turned his shot away.
Extra time had failed to separate these teams last Friday in Irvinestown and this one was on a knife-edge until Abbey finally pulled clear in those late minutes.
Abbey had a dream start. Nathan Ward popped over in the opening minute and they were in for a goal when a Bailieboro defender was penalised for a footblock and Keaney magnificently fired a penalty to the top corner.
Bailieboro were without Nathan Renihan, due to the collarbone injury that forced him out of last week’s drawn encounter, but they were soon back in the game with Conor Sexton, Farrell, Cundelan and Niall McCabe.
Cundelan and McCabe scored to put Bailieboro in front, but frees by Nathan Ward and Keaney squared it up again.
Abbey survived a real scare four minutes before the break when Farrell chased what appeared a lost cause and managed to get a shot away, only for the attempt to trickle wide of the far post.
Brennan, by now exerting real influence having been moved out the field, put Abbey ahead, but they were inseparable at the short whistle as Farrell boomed over a ’45.
With McCrea blocking bravely from Luke Gilsenan, Abbey were given a second wind.
The drizzle became a downpour and while Abbey were in danger of missing the boat, it was their big crowd of followers who were flooding the pitch at the conclusion as a first Markey decider awaits.
Abbey Vocational School: Gavin Mulreaney; Dan Meehan, Aaron McCrea, Cathal Canavan; John Relihan, Peadar Mogan, Brigan Fegan; Brendan McCole, Thomas McGowan; Nathan Ward (0-2, 1f), Jack Keaney (1-5, 1-0pen, 2f, 1 ‘45), Jamie Crawford; Daniel Brennan (0-2), Neil Ward, Daniel Gallagher (1-1). Subs: Conor Breslin for Meehan (30), Conor Gavigan for Fegan (48).
Bailieboro Community School: Stephen O’Reilly; Conor Smith, Phillip Rodgers, Phillip Nulty; Cian Monaghan, David Rodgers, Ciaran Smith; Niall McCabe (0-2, 2f), Jordan McCabe; Luke Gilsenan, Conor Sexton (0-1), Dylan Clarke; Rory Farrell (0-3, 1f, 2 ’45), Aaron Cundelan (1-2), Karl Hannigan. Sub: Clide O’Neill for Hannigan (55).
Referee: Dan Mullan (Derry).
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