St Patrick’s produced a well-rounded performance to see off Ballivor on a scoreline of 0–19 to 1–12. While their forwards rightly took the plaudits for racking up an impressive tally, it was the balance across the pitch from defence through to attack that secured the win for the Stamullen men.

St Pats were quickest out of the blocks, with ever present Donal Landy once again showing his sharpness in front of the posts, slotting over a string of classy scores to finish with five from play on the day. Barry Mooney and even full back David McQuillan got in on the scoring act as Pats set the early tempo.

Ballivor battled back with well-taken points, their half backs raiding forward proving a constant danger on the inside line. Still, the Pats stood firm, led by the disciplined work of Liam Brennan, Oisín, and Conor Black, who broke up attacks and forced Ballivor into difficult shooting positions.

The contest burst into life after the half-time. Ben Sullivan landed a spectacular two-pointer from play, while Jamie Murphy kept his cool from frees, converting two two-pointers and another point. These moments gave Pats a cushion at key stages.

Ballivor struck back with the only goal of the game, cutting the deficit and momentarily swinging momentum. But where lesser sides might have panicked, St Pats kept their heads  much of that composure stemming from the calm presence of goalkeeper Evan McDonald, who organised his defence and commanded his area very well.

As the game entered its closing stages, a standout moment came when Liam Brennan surged out of defence and delivered a superb ball forward, picking out Landy, who clipped over one of the last scores of the day. It summed up the team effort defence and attack combining seamlessly when it mattered most.

With their backs holding strong and their forwards keeping the scoreboard moving, St Pats always had an answer. Further scores from Landy, Sullivan and Murphy pushed them clear, and despite Ballivor’s best efforts, the game ended with the Pats three points to the good.

A strong defensive spine, combined with clinical finishing up front, saw St Patrick’s deservedly claim victory. Calm under pressure and well-organised throughout, this was a performance that showed both their grit and their flair. 

Scorers: J.Murphy 0-06 (0-04tpf), D.Landy 0-05, B.Sullivan 0-04 (0-02tp), S.Emmanuel 0-02 (0-02tp), D.McQuillan 0-01, B.Mooney 0-01

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