First time out and St. Patrick's minors finish with the big prize
St Patrick's 2-9
Clonduff 2-2
ST Patrick’s minors brought their first season to a successful conclusion when they captured the Down Minor Hurling Championship title with a 2-9 to 2-2 victory over Clonduff in Leitrim.
In a tremendously hard-fought championship final where both sides displayed a frightening will to win, it was the ability to put scores on the board that finally won the day for this spirited Ballyvarley / Ballela combination.
The opening exchanges were frenetic and that set the tone for the rest of the game. Both sides had prepared well for this final and the players were clearly motivated for the big occasion and, as one crunching tackle was quickly followed by another, it was clear that this was no place for the uncommitted and faint-hearted.
Right from the beginning it was obvious that both defences were masters of their craft and as the play stuttered rapidly from one end of the field to the other, the teams settled to a low scoring war of attrition and not the stylish game of hurling that the purists might have liked.
James McDermott got the Reds off to the perfect start when he collected the ball in the opening seconds and turned to neatly slot over the opening point to give St Pats a lead they were never to lose.
Most of the scoring chances came in that opening quarter but both sides lacked composure in front of goal and were guilty of glaring misses.
In many ways this proved to be the crucial period of the game when both sides were evenly matched but it was St Pats who had the players to chisel out those vital scores.
Paul O’Neill converted a 30 metre free and then moments later received a great handpass from Ronan McConville to hit a fantastic point over the bar and St Pats were 3-0 up in a very even contest.
There was a long gap until the next score but once more it was a classic as Shannon Drainey advanced from full forward to collect and drive point number four over the Clonduff bar as the widening gap in scores began to look ominous for the Yellows.
In the second quarter both defences had settled to their task and the scoring chances virtually came to an end. Clonduff got their only score of the half when Liam McParlan tapped over a 20 metre free but Paul O’Neill hammered further nails in their coffin when he drove over two more long-range frees to give St Pats a six point cushion at half time.
St Pats brought on Leigh McConville to add a little bite to the attack but chances were at a premium until the 10th minute when James McDermott soloed across the area to fire a low shot to the back of the Clonduff net and at last St Pats looked to have got the vital breakthrough.
In desperation Clonduff surged to the other end of the field to win a free on the left side of the attack and when Kealim O’Hare’s well driven shot was deflected into the St Pats net the game was on again.
The scores then came in a rush with James McDermott once more slotting over a well taken point, Kealim O’Hare replying for Clonduff and then Kelvin Magee bringing the scoring spree to an end with another well taken score to leave St Pats still holding a commanding six point lead.
The onus was on Clonduff and they responded manfully by piling on the pressure but the St Pats defence, superbly marshalled by a man of the match performance from Malachy Magee, looked comfortable in handling the Yellows surge as the clock ticked slowly down.
But St Pats know all about the dangers of late finishes and when Arthur McConville drove through a crowded goalmouth to fire home a last minute goal for the Yellows they knew the impetus was with Clonduff and now only a single goal separated the sides.
A few switches produced the vital rally from St Pats in those long five additional minutes and when they battled forward to win a close-in free they had the chance to tap over the insurance point.
But O’Neill had other ideas and in the gathering autumn gloom he buried the ball to the roof of the net and St Pats were home and dry.
There was still time for another O’Neill point before that welcome final whistle and St Pats celebrated their hard-earned championship victory against their gallant opponents.
Amid contrasting scenes of despair and rejoicing Down Coaching Officer, John Crossey, presented the Down Minor Hurling Championship trophy to jubilant St Pats captain, Malachy Magee.
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Weather for Banbridge
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Light rain
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