St. Vincent’s 1-12 St. Patrick’s 1-10

The Division 10 League Final saw St. Vincent’s face off against St. Patrick’s in Duleek. Both sides had a great league campaign, but St. Patrick’s had emerged on top when the sides met 3 weeks ago. A tough competitive game was expected by the large crowd of supporters and both teams delivered a thriller.

Referee Liam Reddy got the game underway, and St. Pat’s won the throw in but were wayward with their pass. Robbie Lynch was fouled as he pounced on the loose ball. From the free the ball found it’s way to Matthew Tuite who fired a long ball in from the midfield line to Matt Griffin standing on the 21-yard line. He won the ball, rounded the keeper and fired home to give St. Vincent’s the kind of start you dream of. St. Pat’s had opportunities to cut the deficit but were wide of the mark twice before Gary McGlew added a point from play. The Stamullen men got their scoring underway with a point from play in the 9th minute. St. Vincent’s pushed hard and were rewarded when Matt Griffin turned provider for Dylan Kavanagh to fire over another point. Matt Griffin extended the lead after an inch perfect long ball from Eric Callaghan found him free and he slotted it over the bar. A quickly taken free saw St. Pat’s with a goal opportunity, but Graham Connor managed to push it out for a 45 which St. Pat’s converted. They added a point from play shortly after. Eric Callaghan cancelled these two scores with a well taken free for a 2-pointer. St. Pat’s had the best of the last few minutes of the half adding a point from play and one from a free to leave just the goal in it at half time.

Half Time: St. Vincent’s 1-05 St. Patrick’s 0-05

The Stamullen men got the second half scoring going with a point from play. Paddy Arnold found Matthew Tuite in space to fire over for the Ardcath side. St. Pat’s added 2 more points from play before Shane Andrews dispossessed his man, flicked the ball up and burst forward to cooly fire over a point. St. Pat’s replied with a point from play to leave the minimum between the sides. Paddy Arnold found Matt Griffin with a lovely pass, and he fired over his shoulder to add a point for St. Vincent’s. Patient build up play from St. Vincent’s eventually saw the ball make its way to Shane Andrews, who sidestepped 3 men before firing over a point to once again leave the goal between the sides. With 6 minutes left to play came what looked like the pivotal moment in the game. When St. Vincent’s failed to clear their lines, the Stamullen men pounced and after some quick hand passes the ball was volleyed to the back of the net to draw the sides level for the first time. St. Vincent’s needed to reply quickly. A break down the right wing was halted when Adam Andrews was fouled just outside the arc. Reliable as ever, Eric Callaghan stepped up with ice in his veins and fired over the 2-pointer from the free. You can’t buy class. This was quickly followed by a point from Matt Griffin when Adam Andrews again broke down the wing and delivered a lovely ball to him. St. Pat’s replied with a well worked point from play. With the clock deep in injury time St. Pat’s won a free just outside the arc. The opportunity to tie up the match dropped short and as St. Vincent’s cleared their lines referee Liam Reddy blew the final whistle.

A brilliant league campaign culminating in silverware for the Ardcath men. As captain Kevin McEnerney said we had lads coming out of minor and others coming out of retirement. The work put in by every player has been a credit to the club. Commiserations to St. Pat’s who made this a great final for the players and spectators. A proper game of football worthy of a final. The result was never certain until the final whistle.

St. Vincents scorers: Matt Griffin 1-03, Eric Callaghan 0-04 (2x2Pts), Shane Andrews 0-02, Gary McGlew 0-01, Dylan Kavanagh 0-01, Matthew Tuite 0-01

St. Vincent’s: Graham Connor, Shane Boland, Barry O’Sullivan, Michael Young, Andy McEntee, Conor White, Niall Tallon, Kevin McEnerney, Matthew Tuite, Robbie Lynch, Eric Callaghan, Dylan Kavanagh, Gary McGlew, Matt Griffin, Eoin Hand. 

Subs: Shane Caffrey for Barry O’Sullivan, Shane Andrews for Eoin Hand, Darragh Connor for Gary McGlew, Paddy Arnold for Shane Boland, Adam Andrews for Robbie Lynch

 

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