St. Paul's
Win East Down Junior Sevens
ST. PAUL'S WIN EAST DOWN JUNIOR
SEVENS (15/05/05)
Game One: Preliminary Round
St Paul's v Drumaness
St Paul's started this game very
slowly, struggling to shake off a
couple of late nights. With barely 5
minutes on the clock, and the team in
an unfamiliar 'Gold' Away strip were
already two goals & a point down,
however, this was just the wakeup call
the team needed to get them going.
Phil 'Twang' Davey netted to score a
rare goal from a tight angle and this
was followed up by a quick couple of
points to leave the half time score
2-1 1-2 in St. Paul's favour.
St Paul's started the 2nd half
strongly and took advantage of the
rolling sub to score another three
goals in the second half, courtesy of
returnee Ronan Donaghy, Kevin McElroy
and Damian Murray, adding 3 points to
leave the score 4-4 to 2-2 at Full
time (15 minutes).
Drumaness having got off to a flier
hadn't counted on the Division 4
outfit battling back in such
determined fashion and left the pitch
somewhat bewildered.
Game Two: Round One
St Paul's v St John's
St Paul's got off to a flier this
time, with Phil Davey scoring another
goal from distance, catching the St
John's goalkeeper off guard, the ball
dropping into the net at the back
post. However St John's netted within
a couple of minutes, Kevin Murphy in
goals powerless to stop the St John's
goal bound shot. St Paul’s added
another goal through Kevin McElroy,
who at this stage was beginning to
regain his sight (for goal!).
Damian Murray then stepped up to
convert a penalty after Kevin McElroy
had been pulled to the ground in the
small square by the St John's keeper,
however, his right footed effort only
managed to register a point. St John's
continued to try and score goals, when
often points would have been the
easiest option for them, but the St
Paul's defence stood firm, with both
John Murphy and Anthony Davey breaking
down attack after attack and releasing
their front men.
Half time: St Paul’s 2-1 St John's 1-1
St Paul’s started the 2nd half very
strongly again, adding another 2 goals
in quick succession, firstly from the
impressive Ronan Donaghy and again
from that now regular goal scorer Phil
'Twang' Davey. St John's added another
goal and a point, but points from
Brian McElroy, Kevin McElroy and Anto
'Bugle' Davey meant the St John's boys
were subjected to a lengthy post
mortem from their management team,
whilst the St Paul's boys
congratulated each other upon reaching
their first East Down 7s Semi-Final.
Final Score: St Paul's 4-4 St John's
2-2
Semi Final:
Ballykinlar v St Paul's
The home team warmed up for this semi
final by routinely beating the brave
Aughlisnafin in the 1st round. St
Paul's, weary after already playing 2
games, struggled to get going in the
early stages against a sharper,
fresher home team, the final 4 point
cushion, not a true reflection of the
possession enjoyed by the beaten team.
St Paul's led at half time through a
Kevin McElroy goal and a couple of
points from Phil 'Twang' Davey &
Damian Murray. Ballykinlar having
scored a goal and a point against the
tiring St Paul's team.
Ballykinlar enjoyed the majority of
the 2nd half possession, although some
intelligent play from St Paul's
goalkeeper/sweeper Kevin Murphy and
better conversion of chances saw them
win with the 4 point cushion.
Had the home team made more use of
their possession, then their position
in the Final would not have been
unjustified, the St Paul's 8 were out
on their feet at the end of this game,
retiring to the sideline, to see who
would await them in the Final.
Intelligent usage of the substitute
ensured that the most tired were
replaced when needed.
Final Score: Ballykinlar 1-3 St Paul’s
1-7
2nd semi final:
Bredagh 2-5 Ardglass 1-7
Final: A capacity crowd saw St Paul’s
make history by winning their first
East Down 7s tournament by the score
line of St Paul's 3-7 Bredagh 1-4.
St Paul's, although tired, got off to
a great start, an early Kevin McElroy
goal followed by points from Brian
McElroy (1 from play and 1 free) and
another goal from Damian Murray, left
them in a commanding position at half
time.
In the 2nd half St Paul's pulled away
from Bredagh right from the throw in,
registering another Kevin McElroy goal
and a couple of points from Brian
McElroy, Anto 'Bugle' Davey and a
crucial insurance point from Ronan
Donaghy. Bredagh responded with a goal
and a couple of points, but to no
avail.
St Paul’s were crowned East Down 7s
Champions 2005, going forward to
represent East Down versus the South
Down Junior winners, a week on Sunday
in Newcastle.
There are places up for grabs, in what
promises to be a unique occasion for
the club to register its first
silverware at Senior level, and also
possibly go forward to represent the
county at Provincial level.
