St Ultans 3-10 St Vincents 1-10
St Ultans secured their 3rd win the A League but they didn't make it easy for themselves, on a perfect night for football in Ardcath with no wind it somehow turned out to be a game of two halves. St Vincents started brightly and were first to every ball all over the pitch and opened the scoring on three minutes with a point from play. St Vincent's then hit the net on 5 minutes after a well finished goal from a tight angle.
St Vincent's were now in complete control and four more points from play left eight points between the sides with barely 10 minutes gone. Ultans started to get a grip on the game winning ball around midfield and centre forward Cian Rennicks scored the first of the night for Ultans. Ultans wasted some opportunities and Vincent's scored again to restore the eight point difference. Darren Kavanagh scored Ultans second and last point of a disappointing half before St Vincents again extended the lead again to lead by eight at the break.
The same fifteen players started for Ultans in the second half but inspired by manager Padraig Coyle they had a much improved attitude. The first attack of the half saw Emmet Costello cleverly pass to an unmarked Eoin Kavanagh who calmly finished low to the net. Eoin followed up with a well taken free from the ground to narrow the gap to four. Full forward Greg McKeever who won a lot of possession all evening did well to break a high ball that ended up with Mark Allen in space and he finished low and hard to the net. St Vincent's scored a free to leave two points between the sides.
A brace of points from play for the impressive Darren Kavanagh left the sides all square, a driving run and pass from Martin Dolan found Eoin Kavanagh in the large square who powerfully finished to the roof of the net to leave Ultans leading for the first time in the match. St Vincent's replied with a free but Ultans were determined to leave with the two points and excellent team scores from Darren Kavanagh and Cian Rennicks and a free from Gearoid Rennicks left Ultans in control. St Vincent's rallied and scored another point but determined disciplined defending and good save from keeper Cian Farnan prevented any comeback. A Gearoid Rennicks free and a Cian Rennicks point completed the scoring for Ultans who turned an eight point half time deficit into a six point win.
Next up for St Ultans is the first round of the Intermediate Championship against Walterstown in two weeks time.
St. Ultans: Cian Farnan, Declan Ball, Jason Bennett, Luke O'Reilly, Martin Dolan, Darren Costello, Darren Mallon, Gearoid Rennicks 0-2 (2f), Mark Allen 1-0, Emmet Costello, Cian Rennicks 0-3, Darren Kavanagh 0-4, Eoin Kavanagh 2-1 (1f), Greg McKeever, Ronan Breslin Subs Used Paidin Boggins, Eoin McLoughlin