Saul Notes - Feb 5th 2006

Saul GAC Club Notes for week of Mar 19th 2006

Minors win again
- Saul 3-9; St Pauls 3-6.
  
  On Sunday last, Saul minors successfully recovered from a seven point half-time deficit to record their 2nd win on the trot. Scores from Chris Fitzsimons (1-8), Callum Laverty (1-1) and Chris Laverty (1-0) overcame a brave challenge from the Holywood visitors and gave new optimism to the section C league campaign.
  
  Playing into the wind, Saul began slowly and a visibly bigger visiting side took advantage to race 1-3 ahead in the first 15 mins. In fact it was a further 5 minutes before Callum Laverty opened the home account with a pointed free. Chris Fitzsimons doubled the Saul score from a second free a minute later after Danny Curran was fouled going through but the comeback appeared short-lived when St Pauls notched a further 3 scores before the break and indeed missed at least 2 goal chances.
  
  Trailing by 1-6 to 0-2, the Saul management delivered a stern half-time team-talk and on the restart it appeared to work with a lightning opening 5 minutes from Saul. Driven forward by Conor Shields, Chris Mullan, Conall Magill and Brian Gaffney, Saul registered 2 minor scores from Fitzsimons (1 free) and the same player delivered a pinpoint pass to Chris Laverty to stab home low in the right hand corner. A further Fitzsimons free after a surging run from Callum Laverty had reduced the St Pauls lead to the minimum. The visitors' attempts to recover from the early blue & gold surge perished on a now rock solid defence with Paddy Hamill, Sean Laverty and Stephen Polly prominent and 2 further converted frees from Fitzsimons gave Saul the lead for the first time with just over 10 mins remaining. St Pauls weren't giving up without a fight and a well worked move into the wind and a few missed clearances in the Saul backline, ended with the ball in the back of the Saul net to snatch the lead back for the visitors again (1-7 to 2-6). Their lead though was shortlived as by now Saul were rampant. A further Fitzsimons free to reduce the lead to the min was added to when Callum Laverty soloed through the heart of the St Pauls defenced and buried the ball home for a 2pt lead with 5 mins to go. When a long range effort for a point from Fitzsimons dropped short and found the top left corner of the net, victory was assured. Even a late scrambled 3rd goal for the Holywood side didn't rattle Saul and they closed out the 3 point win with a 30yd free from Fitzsimons.
  
  The management team will be pleased with the 2nd half response from the Saul squad and with attention to training (Friday at 7pm at Dunleath) and getting the focus right earlier in the game, this seasons league campaign is turning very positive. Besides those already mentioned, this was a total team effort. Finbarr Hamill, Danny Curran, Thomas McGuinness, Conor Tumelty and Declan Polly all played their part in a great win.
Mixed weekend for the seniors
- Saul 1-8; Loughinisland 0-9.
  
  Saul seniors helped get St Patrick's Day up and rolling on Friday, under the watchful eye of the saint himself at St Patrick's park when they took on a Loughinisland team minus their current county players Molloy, Gordon and O'Toole.
  
  A reasonable crowd turned up in bitterly cold conditions and gate donation all went to the worthy cause - Trocaire. The crowd also witnessed a highly competitive game for the new St Patrick's Cup and in the end the home side collected the honours thanks to a late scoring flourish and in particular a sweetly taken goal from substitute Gareth Casement.
  
  While Loughinisland were missing a few regulars they'll be hoping to call on for the Div 1 campaign, Saul also had a handful of unavailables and both sides will be happy that they were able to have a good competitive workout.
  
  With wind advantage and more fluent team play, Loughinisland held a 4 point lead at the break (0-7 to 0-3) with a rusty Saul attacking play only returning scores from JP Burke, Fergal Ward and Lee Magee and at least twice as many wides.
  
  In the second period, the Saul woodwork led a charmed life as Loughinisland twice found the posts instead of the scores but points from Ward and Philip Traynor brought Saul within 2 minor scores with 10 minutes left. A long driven ball from Magee was then flicked on by Michael Vint to unmarked substitute Gareth Casement and he slipped his shot under the 'Island keeper to grab the lead for the first time. 3 Saul points from Aodhan Brady, Traynor and Vint against a solitary point for the visitors left the St Patricks club 3 in front. When a late goal chance for the 'Island was flashed over the bar rather than under it, Saul had secured their first silverware of the season. Thanks to the Loughinisland club and supporters for helping to make the new St Patricks Cup a success.
  
  Saul 1-6; Bredagh 2-8. On Sunday, an experimental Saul senior side couldn't follow up their St Patrick's day performance and lost to a talented and committed Bredagh side who will be hard to see beyond for the Div 4 honours this year. Minor scores from Lee Magee, JP Burke, Gareth Casement and Nathan Keenan plus a goal from a first half penalty by Donnan Ritchie was a poor return on the amount of posession managed by the blue and gold but the Paddy Heaney inspired Bredagh side fully deserved their win in a useful and competitive pre-season outing. Thanks to Bredagh for making the trip to Saul early on Sunday and Saul wishes them all the best in their quest to escape from Division 4.

Ulster Scor Sinsear Final
- The Ulster Scor Sinsear final takes place at Three Mile House, Monaghan this Saturday (March 25th) with Gareth McGreevy representing Saul and Down in the Recitation category. Best of luck to Gareth in going for the Ulster title and also to the other county representatives from Clonduff, Carryduff and Mayobridge.
Good Luck Red High
- Congratulations to the Red High on winning the Loch an Iúir title at Casement park on St Patricks day. Best of Luck to the McLarnon side who look to do the double when taking on La Salle, Belfast in the senior B final on Saturday next (March 25th) and especially to club minor Daryl Casement.

Training Dates & Times
- Training for the various club teams continues this week as follows:
  - Minors & U16's - Training at Dunleath Park at 7pm on Friday night - last session under lights. Any problems, contact Conor (07716243207), Gary (07967087887) or Paul (07779351405).
  - Senior Ladies - Training moved to Sunday nights at 6pm under the guidance of Frank Holland. All players (current and new) are encouraged to attend.
  - U12/U14 girls - Sundays at 12.30pm at Saul
  - U10/U12 boys - training will start next Tuesday (Mar 28th) at 6.15 pm in Saul

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