East Down U-16 B Football League Final: Saul 3-09 St Josephs (Ballykinlar/Dundrum) 2-16
The young trojans
of St Josephs
annexed the League
title that they
have craved for
so much all year
after they negotiated
their way past
an excellent Saul
team at St Patrick's
Park last Tuesday.
The game was highly
charged throughout
and a superb comeback
from Saul in the
2nd half threatened
to spoil the Saint's
party. However,
the amalgamation
held their nerve
and with some
teancious play
near the death,
they held on admirably
to secure the
League gold.
It was the talented
home team who
got the game off
to the best possible
start. A goal
came their way
through their
chief attacking
threat Chris Laverty.
However, the Saints
were quick to
settle and it
took a free kick
from captain Sean
O'Rourke to give
his side the confidence
to push on. A
further effort
from O'Rourke
and scores from
Anthony Mageean
and Conn Rooney
then brought the
away side into
the lead.
The Saint's small
advantage was
soon neutralised
though as John
Thompson fired
over from the
21'. With the
game back level
the next score
would be crucial.
With St Josephs
growing in confidence
they took the
lead once more
through Brendan
Cunningham. This
was then capitalised
on as the Baysiders
racked up 1-05
without reply
to shellshock
Saul. Frees from
Stefan Mason and
the lively Cunningham
arrived before
the former found
the net with a
superb goal. The
solid Patrick
Curry then grabbed
his first of the
night before Anthony
Mageean and Cunningham
completed the
blitz with a score
apeice.
As halftime edged
nearer Saul were
in disarray but
their second free
of the night settled
them before they
went in at the
break trailing
by eight points.
In truth St Josephs
dominated the
1st half and they
used up a lot
of energy in the
process. Saul
regrouped well
at the interval
and they emerged
more determined
than ever to get
back in to the
game.
The homeside started
the 2nd half brightly.
In the opening
ten minutes they
outscored their
opposition five
scores to one
to bring four
points between
the sides. The
Saint's effort
coming from the
boot of midfielder
Conall McKee.
However, despite
starting shakily
the amalgamation
soon got their
house in order.
Points from Anthony
Mageean and Sean
O'Rourke extended
their lead to
six before O'Rourke
struck the killer
blow with a real
gem of a goal
after some fine
build up play
from his attacking
counterparts.
Trailing by nine
points, Saul soon
reverted to an
attacking policy
and they responded
to O'Rourke's
goal with 1-01
in the space of
a minute. The
committed Donal
McCavera was the
goalscorer as
the Blue and Gold
fleet reduced
the deficit to
five points.
With just over
ten minutes remaining
the game was finely
poised as Saul
continued to drive
forward. Yet the
Saints true character
began to shine
through and a
double from Sean
O'Rourke and one
from Anthony Mageean
put a comfortable
margin of eight
points between
the factions.
All credit to
Saul though. They
continued to plug
away and despite
a late rally which
saw Conaill McGrady
pointing and Chris
Laverty goaling,
they couldnt find
enough in the
tank to catch
their foes.
On the whole St
Josephs just about
deserved their
win. Despite not
making the most
of their possession
they always had
enough in reserve
to hold off their
challengers. Their
win was built
around strong
performances from
Donal Brennan,
Raymond Melville
and Philip Mageean
in defence, Conall
McKee in midfield
and Conn Rooney,
Sean Murray and
Stefan Mason in
attack. The pick
of the substitutes
were Conor Mageean
and Conor Mason
who both did an
excellent job
when introduced.
This was St Joseph's
thirteenth win
out of fourteen
games in the League
this year. In
what was a great
panel effort the
team lifted the
Anthony Fitzsimons
Memorial Shield
with great pride.
Their main objective
for the year had
been achieved.
St Josephs: E.King,
D.Brennan, K.Carville,
R.Melville, P.Mageean,
C.Miskelly, P.Curry
(0-01), A.Mageean
(0-04), C.McKee
(0-01), S.Murray,
B.Cunningham (0-03,
1F), M.Grant,
C.Rooney (0-01),
S.O'Rourke (1-05,
1F), S.Mason (1-01,
1F). Subs: C.Mageean,
C.Mason, A.Killen,
R.Smith, R.Kavanagh
