Saul U14s get new sponsor and overcome Liatroim in league opener
Saul entertained Liatroim in their first league match of the season expecting a tough game. Prior to the game, Frank Holland of Newry Building Supplies handed over a new set of sponsored u14 jerseys to chairman Peter Craig (see photo).
The match started slowly for Saul, scoring only two points in the first ten minutes from Leigh Cunningham and Rory Mullen. But Saul then began to play some good football and registered a goal from Conail McGrady and a goal and a point from Cunningham. Jamie McComiskey and Rory Mullen work hard throughout the game to keep a good Liatroim midfield under control. Liatroim could not handle the Saul attack with Sean Moreland and Conail Mcgrady registering points. Having struggled against a strong Saul defence lead by Philly Trainor, Brendan Breen and Killian Gallagher, Liatroim scored their first two points just before half-time to leave the score at 2-5 to 0-2. After the break Saul really turned on the heat with the deadly Conail McGrady scoring three goals and a point in quick succession after great link up play between Cunningham, Mark Magill and Arthur Morgan. Liatroim scored a goal and two points of their own, to tighten the deficit. Saul responded with a point from Timothy Russell and a goal and a point from Cunningham after help from Brendan Breen. Liatroim then had a period of pressure and registered a goal and four points from the impressive midfield pairing to send a wake up call to Saul, who finished with yet another goal from Conail McGrady and a point from Breen. Congratulations boys for a good start to the league and a word of thanks to both Jamie McComiskey and Brendan Breen who played despite being unwell.

The next match is in Carryduff on Thursday night and all players should meet at the clubrooms at 6-15pm.

U12s in Castlewellan
The under 12s traveled to Castlewellan on Sunday to take on "The Town" and this was another close encounter with a full range of skills on display from both sides. Castlewellan got some early scores despite good defending from Sam McKee, PJ Dunlop and especially half backs Joe Hayes and the tenacious Mark McGrady who had a superb game throughout. Cormac Byrne used his strength to great effect. While Conor Marron took a number of excellent scores in both halfs. Others to catch the eye were Cathal Sloan , Caolán Magee and Gordon Rourke who made an exciting debut.

This Sunday the under 12s have a home game against Bryansford with players to meet at Saul at 11:15am. Training continues on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6pm.

Kit,bags etc. are available in the clubhouse,and outstanding membership should be paid this week.Players are reminded that a fee of £1 is payable every week.

Seniors: Saul 2-12 Ardglass 0-3
Following defeats in their 3 opening fixtures on returning to Division 3, depending on heart for the battle, a head to head with local rivals Ardglass in their 4th match was either going to be a nervous undertaking for the Saul side, still hampered by injuries to Lee Magee, Conor Shields and Kieran McVeigh, or a motivation for a renewed start. Which Saul side would we see on Monday night? In the end, this turned out to be the best team performance from Saul for a few years which was a joy to watch as they settled to the task from the throw-in with a single-minded focus.

>From the throw-in, and playing into the wind, Adam King setup half-back Aodhan Brady for the opening score after 30 seconds had elapsed. The Saul determination was clear right from the off and after a couple of wides, full-forward Nathan Keenan's strength, which was to become a torment for the Ardglass defence, led to a breakthrough on 6 minutes but his drive for goal came crashing back off the crossbar. Ardglass were trying hard to get into the game with Michael Magee at midfield striving to get on terms with Saul's combination of King and McKinlay. A Keenan point from a close in free extended the home lead. With the wind behind them, Ardglass were getting rare opportunities against a focussed Saul defence and in a 3 minute spell midway through the half, they pulled themselves level with points from a Michael Magee free and a Chris Deegan effort. The Saul support had seen their team's defence capitulate to pressure several times already this season but not this time. Greg Holland, Damien Hamill and Ronan Brady were superb in the full-back line providing an impenetrable barrier for Stevie Stratton and a platform for half-backs Aodhan Brady, JP Burke and Paul Ferris to support their attacking play. On the quarter hour mark, a free from Nathan Keenan was collected by Adam King and driven over the bar for a Saul lead they never again relinquished. Ardglass frustrations were leading to increasingly ragged play from the visitors and with 5 mins to the half, their task wasn't helped at all when midfielder Telford received a red card for an off-ball incident. Boosted by this Saul finished strongly and a long ball in from McKinlay was flicked on by Keenan for Ryan Burns to point and provide a half-time score of 0-4 to 0-2 with Saul having wind advantage in the second.

Realising their situation, Ardglass came out for the second half fired up and attacked from the off with Michael Magee closing the gap to a single with a pointed free but the pattern of play quickly settled again with the Saul outlet of the long ball into Keenan paying dividends time after time. Michael Vint setup Adam King for a point on the first home attack and on 5 minutes, any doubt about the end result was laid to rest when Saul captain Donnan Ritchie was fouled and his quick thinking from the free put Keenan through one on one with Ardglass keeper Fleming and the big man side stepped the netminder to drive the net and Saul were 5 clear. Thereafter the game became exhibition stuff from an impressive home side as Ardglass never gave up trying but Saul's determination all over the field prevented any threat to their goals. Points flowed from Vint (free), Ritchie, McKinlay, Keenan and Brady before a Michael Vint effort rattled the Ardglass crossbar again with 10 minutes remaining. A supreme piece of skill from Ryan Burns then setup Sauls second major score when he collected a poor kickout and in one movement slipped the ball to the inrushing Michael Vint and he placed his shot low to the visiting net to end the contest. Further points from JP Burke and McKinlay wrapped up a superb win and setup a more positive basis for Saul to take on the remainder of their Div 3 campaign. Ardglass were disappointing on the night and are capable of so much more than they were able to show at Saul - no doubt they will regroup and have better days ahead but this was a night for the suffering Saul support to thrill to the performance of their side.

Friday night sees the visit of St Pauls to Saul for a 7.15pm throw-in.

U16's & Minors:
The U16 and Minor teams both played host to neighbours Kilclief this week and had mixed fortunes. On Tuesday night, in a game that finished in torrential rain, the U16s had registered a comfortable 3-12 to 2-6 win while 24 hours later, Kilclief repaid the favour with 3 first half goals for the visitors setting Saul too big a deficit to close and the green and reds running out winners on a 3-6 to 2-5 scoreline.

This week sees both the U16s and the Minors visit Bright on Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively. Both games have 7.15pm throw-ins and the players are asked to be at Saul for 6.15pm.

Girls Football:
The U16 Girls travelled to Mayobridge on Sunday and pushed the home side close in the first half before succumbing to their 2nd defeat in the league. Rachel Torney, Rachel Curran, Catherine Hamilton, Tara Laverty, Gemma Toner and Rachel Turley stood out for Saul.

Training continues for the U12, U14 and U16 Girls on Weds night at 6.15 in Saul with the next league match seeing the U14 girls hosting Teconnaught on Sunday (1pm throw-in; meet in Saul at 12.15pm)

 

Diary Dates:
 

• Children’s Quiz - this Sunday (May 6th) at the Clubrooms; starting at 6pm.
   
• The club intends to run a bus to the Ulster Championship preliminary round game between Cavan and Down at Breffni Park on May 13th. This will primarily be for the club's Under 14 and Under 12 Players. Please register your interest with your team manager.
   
• Club Table Quiz - Fri, May 18th (Paddys Barn)
• Summer Barbeque - Fri, Jun 29th (Slaney Inn)
• The "Cúl Camp" summer scheme which was so successful last year will be held again in Saul this year during the first week of the Holidays - 1st to 5th July. Further details will be provided over the coming weeks.
• Night at the Races - Fri, Sep 21st (Paddys Barn)
• Halloween Fancy Dress - Fri, Oct 26th
• Annual Dinner Dance - Fri, Nov 16th (Burrendale)