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Saul Notes - July 24th 2006

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Saul GAC Club Notes for week of July 23rd 2006

 

• Teams Roundup:
   

After the summer break, league action resumed on Sunday with both the seniors and reserves in action in the sunshine at St Patrick's Park.
 

• Seniors: : Saul 1-6 Glassdrumman 0-9

First up was the senior game with Glassdrumman which both teams realised would have a major bearing on the relegation playoff places at the end of the season and after a hard fought 60 minutes the sides couldn't be separated at a draw on 1-6 to 0-9, a result which left each team relieved they hadn't lost but wondering what might have been.

Saul were still minus Donnan Ritchie who however is closing on a return to action and they handed starting places to Jason Dagens and Nathan Keenan and it was the home side who got off to the brightest start into a stiff breeze when Lee Magee punted a short free into Michael Vint who turned, cut inside and fisted the opener. Aodhan Brady then surged forward from half-back and set up Magee who's drive for goal was well parried to safety by visiting keeper Ronan McDowell. This seemed to finally kickstart the visitors and Shane Feeney wided on their first attack 8 minutes in but Connaire Harrison (who tormented Saul in the away fixture earlier) registered the levelling score a minute later. At this stage, the combination of the wind advantage and strong play from Mallon and Grant in midfield along with Cormac Murphy who was roaming out from full-forward gave the visitors the upper hand. Visiting full-back O'Neill (who was being dragged out the field by Saul's Nathan Keenan) found himself in nose bleed territory when a break ball fell to him 40 yds out but he duly converted for the lead score. Harrison and Murphy then converted frees as the Saul backline was coming under increasing pressure with Murphy's score being a huge effort from outside the 50. Saul's half-forward Lee Magee continued to battle away around the middle and his persistence paid off when on a push forward he was fouled for a free he converted himself. Saul were losing out on break ball on a major scale and Drumman forward Murphy turned one piece of possession into another long range score. As half-time approached, Magee pulled a minor score back after Vint was fouled and Vint was narrowly wide on Saul's only goal chance of the half which closed out with the visitors three ahead when Harrison flicked another long range effort over the bar. At the break Saul trailed 0-3 to 0-6 but with wind advantage that gap looked very much closeable.

Despite now having wind advantage, Saul took 15 minutes of the second period to find their next score as a combination of sound defending from O'Neill, McCartan and Burns plus overhit passes from Saul attacks allowed the visitors to hold firm and even to extend the lead further with 2 frees from the accurate Harrison. McKinlay and Ferguson, though, in the middle were being increasingly successful in gaining possession for Saul, aided by half-backs Holland and Brady and captain JP Burke. Saul found scoring range again when Paul Holland was fouled in clearing with Lee Magee on target and Vint added to that when Ryan Burns was taken out. With little over 5 minutes remaining and Saul scoring opportunities drying up again, it was left to inspirational full-back Adam King to burst forward and slam over a great score to leave Saul behind and St Patrick's Park erupted when on the next attack a long wind assisted pass this time found the dangerous Vint and he rounded the full-back before rippling the top right corner of the net for the Saul lead and 4 minutes left. Possession was precious now and scoring opportunities restricted by life-depending tackles in both defences. Unfortunately with 2 minutes remaining, one of these tackles in the Saul defence was deemed illegal and Harrison didn't turn down the chance to tie the game and give his side a probably deserved share of the spoils, although over the hour Saul had a number of wides from good positions and will feel they could with greater calm in forward positions, have claimed both points. Next up for the seniors following their refixed game in Warrenpoint on Tuesday night, is the trip to table toppers An Riocht on Friday night (throw-in at 7.30pm)
 

• Reserves: Saul 2-12; Bredagh 2-8
   

In the EDRFL, table toppers Bredagh came to Saul to take on the reserves who had won 3 in a row after a poor start to the league and the Blue & Gold reserve side registered a superb performance and 4 point win over the Ravenhill Road outfit on a 2-12 to 2-8 score. After 2 Saul wides early on and Bredagh taking the lead, Saul started to dominate possession with Gareth Casement, Paul Ferris and Ryan Burns snapping up everything. Saul took the lead with scores from Casement and Burns but just as a premature satisfaction was settling in across the team, they were punished for a crazy 4 spell of poor defensive marking to concede 2-1. Points from Brendan Curran and Jason Dagens restored some of the balance and despite a further score from the visitors, Saul finished on a high when half-back Ryan Burns raided forward to pick up a pass from Ferris and pick out the bottom left corner of the net. Half-time Saul 1-4; Bredagh 2-3.

One of the key attributes of the Saul reserve team in the current run has been the ability in the 2nd half to take negative hits and dispel creeping doubts to finish games off through fluent teamwork and constant scoreboard action and this was no different. The team were left in no doubts by managers Molloy and Shields that this game was there for the taking and Saul restarted in blistering fashion. Dagens took less than a minute to reduce the gap to a point and when an effort from Burns crashed off the crossbar, Brendy Curran's persistence paid off when he netted the rebound after an initial block to give Saul the lead with 3 minutes gone. Further points flowed from Casement, Dagens (2) and corner back Ronan Brady with Bredagh registering 2 scores on breakaway attacks. Saul were four-up and seemingly coasting but Bredagh aren't at the top end of the league without a reason and they continued to press hitting 3 minor scores between the 20th and 27th minutes to leave a single score in it and time running out but this reserve side have a determined core and they worked a seemingly dead ball out from the corner for Paul Ferris to setup the in-rushing Burns to split the uprights and when substitute Barry Curran added a further score, Bredagh heads dropped. Saul sealed their 4 point win and their 4th in a row with a huge pointed free from star man Ryan Burns on the whistle.

Saul worked well as a team throughout and had great performances from Mick McMillen, Conor Shields and Ronan Brady in defence along with Ryan Burns who defended well and also contributed hugely to the scoreboard. At midfield Gareth Casement and Paul Ferris never tired and in attack, Brendan Curran, Chris Fitzsimons, Jason Dagens and Stevie Shields kept the visiting defence busy throughout. The squad next Sunday will look forward to visiting neighbours Ardglass who themselves are going strongly in the league.
 

          o Underage teams:
 

No games played over the summer break at any level but the upcoming matches start to come thick and fast for the teams from this week onwards.
 

• Minors: despite the league having finished some time ago, the minor team have a 'B' championship first round fixture down for Wednesday night in Saul with a 7.30pm throw-in with the opposition coming from Naomh Eanna (St Michaels/Tullylish combination)

• U16's: The U16's also have a 'B' championship fixture next Tuesday (August 1st) with a quarter final head to head in Dundrum. Throw-in again is set for 7.30 pm

• U14's: continuing with championship theme, the U14's also have a 'B' Championship 1/4 final away to Ballykinlar this Thursday night starting at 7.30pm

• U12's: The next Go-games fixture is on Sunday in Kilclief starting at 12noon
   

• Club Teams Training

• U14/U12 Girls Training

Training restarted last Thurs (July 20th) for the U12 and U14 girls and will continue on Thursday night at 6pm (to 7.30 pm) and on Sunday at 12.30pm in preparation for Phase 2 of the U14 league and U12 tournament games. With the holiday period coming to a close, all players are asked to attend. If any player can't make they're asked to let Irene know on 44841898.
 

• Under 12/Under 10 boys     

Tuesday training - restarted Tuesday (July 25th) - from 6.15pm to 7.15pm and continues every Tuesday between these times.
Under 12 go-games take place every Sunday at 11.30am
Under 10 blitz will be held in Saul on Saturday week (August 4th) starting at 11 am sharp - keep an eye on the website (www.saul-gac.com) for more details