St. Patricks 2-9 Clonduff 2-3

Hot favourites St Patrick’s (an amalgamation of Balella and Ballyvarley) won the Down Minor Hurling Championship on Sunday in Laitroim. The first half was a tough physical encounter that saw St Patricks open the scoring within 40 seconds of the throw in. The stars of the recent Down All Ireland winning minor team were to the fore on both sides but it was the St Patrick’s Paul O’ Neill that produced the scores. Despite trailing by 5 points at half time Clonduff had matched St Patricks through out. They did have a penalty saved on 22 minutes and missed 2 goal opportunities a the end of the second half.

St Patricks looked to have clinched it after the break with a goal on 4 minutes. Clonduff revived their fortunes from the puckout and finally hit the net with a goal of their own. But despite several chances at both ends only a point was scored by each team over the next 20 minutes.

Towards the end of the match the poor light somewhat hampered play. Arthur McConville got his second goal for Clonduff with 5 minutes remaining to give them a glimmer of hope before a 21 yard free was sent through the gloom to the net by Paul O’Neill to give St Patricks breathing space as injury time began.

Clonduff failed to challenge in the dying minutes and it was St Patrick’s captain Malcahy Magee who received the Cup from John Crossey as fireworks were let off by some jubilant fans in the carpark.