St. Vincents 1-21 St. Ultans 1-8

St. Vincent’s welcomed St. Ultan’s to Masterson Park to kick off the 2025 season with this Tailteann Cup clash under the new rules. The St. Vincent’s team lined up with a mix of youth and experience, with some established players short due to U20 and Senior Development squad commitments for the County. 

The visitors played with the slight breeze in the first half, but it was the home side who started best and inside the first few minutes it was Shane Caffrey who opened the scoring with a very well taken goal. Nigel Hand extended the lead with a point from play and another from a free. Gary Tuite increased the lead with a point from play. St. Ultan’s replied with a point from play before adding a 2-pointer from play to leave a goal between the sides. Mark Crawley made a rare trip to the forward line and added a point from play for St. Vincent’s. The men in maroon were then guilty of some wayward shooting, kicking several wides, and not capitalising on the possession that they had. St. Ultan’s took heart from this and added another huge 2 pointer from play before kicking another well worked point. A good run from Adam Andrews, making his debut, caused problems for the visitors. He was fouled on his way towards the scoring zone and Nigel Hand duly slotted over the free. But St. Ultan’s kept the pressure on and were rewarded when a long ball in from a free was dispatched to the back of the net to give them the lead. In a fast moving, end-to-end game, St. Vincent’s drew level when Nigel Hand converted another free before Gary Tuite finished the first half scoring with a point from play to restore the lead for the home side. 

Half Time: St. Vincent’s 1-07 St. Ultan’s 1-06

The men in maroon had the advantage of the slight wind in the second half and Graham Connor opened the scoring with a pointed 45. Nigel Hand made a great run forward before being fouled and he added a point from the free. With his confidence up and the wind at his back he added a 2-pointer shortly after. Matthew Tuite got in on the act with a point from play, before Nigel pointed another free. Conor Harford added a point from play, Nigel Hand added a 2-pointer from a free and Robbie Lynch brought his shooting boots too as he added a point from play, giving the home side an 11-point lead. St. Ultan’s cut the lead slightly by adding a point from a free and one from play. Despite their efforts, they would not be able to find any more scores. Robbie Lynch added a point from play before Conor Harford added a 2-pointer. Gary McGlew rounded out the scoring with a pointed free. 

A positive start for St. Vincent’s to 2025 with 9 different scorers on the night and Adam Andrews and CJ Tuite making positive impacts on their adult debut for the club. Next up we face Syddan on Sunday 16th February @ 11.00am.

St. Vincents scorers: Nigel Hand 0-10 (2 x 2pts), Shane Caffrey 1-00, Conor Harford 0-03 (1 x 2pts), Gary Tuite 0-02, Robbie Lynch 0-02, Mark Crawley 0-01, Matthew Tuite 0-01, Graham Connor 0-01 (from 45), Gary McGlew 0-01

St. Vincent’s: Graham Connor, Mark Crawley (Capt.), Davy Tallon, Ciaran Brangan, Gary Tuite, Ryan Hand, Andy McEntee, Bob Tallon, Conor White, Adam Andrews, Nigel Hand, Shane Caffrey, Matthew Tuite, Stefan O’Neill, Kevin McEnerney.

Subs: Conor Harford for Kevin McEnerney, Martin Fox for Bob Tallon, Robbie Lynch for Stefan O’Neill, Niall Tallon for Andy McEntee, Dylan Kavanagh for Adam Andrews, Gary McGlew for Matthew Tuite, CJ Tuite for Conor White

 

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