Réalt boys on song
Smith hat-trick helps to down Pat’s
REALT NA MARA ST. PATRICK’S 5-6 2-7
THE SCORELINE does not reflect the magnificent efforts of St. Patrick’s, but in the end the ability of Réalt na Mara to finish clinically for five goals separated the sides in this exciting New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 5 championship final in Monageer.
Free-scoring full-forward Andrew Smith was very much to the forefront through the opening half with three excellent goals.
Listed in the programme as goalkeeper, his switch to full-forward before the start of the game provided rich dividends, as he was lethal in front of goal.
It was in keeping with the attacking nature of the play that the game produced seven goals, and such was the level of individual performances on both sides that the end result could have been closer.
The eventual winners enjoyed an excellent start, kept their composure when brought under pressure, while at the opposite end they were clinical in front of goal.
For St. Patrick’s defeat may have been their lot in the end but they shone through with their battling qualities backed up by much skilful football.
They failed to enjoy the brightest of starts, falling 1-3 to nil adrift inside the opening nine minutes, but the manner in which they battled to be within two points of their opponents approaching the break was hugely impressive.
A goal in first-half additional time once again set them adrift, and in the end two second-half goals from the eventual winners decided the destination of the shield.
The seasiders enjoyed a lightning start to the game, with three quickfire points inside the opening eight minutes through Páuric Murphy (one free), while ’keeper Cathal Whelan denied the opposition an opening goal with a fine save from Cormac Murphy.
One minute later he was beaten by Andrew Smith who finished splendidly to the corner of the net from ten metres, giving his side a 1-3 to nil lead.
St. Patrick’s through the efforts of Noel James and Keith Curran in defence, along with midfielders Eoin Doyle and Daniel Grene, opened their account after eleven minutes when Dylan O’Sullivan pounced on a breaking ball to fire high into the corner of the net.
With the sides going on to exchange points, St. Patrick’s were now applying lots of pressure, producing a fine goal from corner-forward Darragh Goff to leave just two points (2-4 to 2-2) separating the sides approaching the break.
Tiernan Doyle and Keelan Kennedy shone in defence for the eventual winners, while Seán Og Doyle and Dylan Hersey-Kenny were outstanding in midfield, with Páuric Murphy shining in attack along with Smith.
In first-half additional time that the eventual winners struck back with Smith notching his second goal, this time getting on the end of a sweeping move to finish low to the net.
And while Tom Waugh responded with a point, four still separated the sides at the interval.
The second-half continued to produce excellent open football, but St. Patrick’s, having applied all the early pressure, were struck a killer blow four minutes in.f
Following a sweeping move started through the half-back line and continued by four players, team captain Seán Og Doyle finished splendidly with a terrific shot to the roof of the net, giving his side a 4-4 to 2-3 lead.
St. Patrick’s to their credit played with great urgency as they hauled themselves back into the game with three successive points from Stephen Donohoe-Kavanagh and Daniel Greene (two frees) to reduce the deficit to 4-4 to 2-6, but it was the sheer power of the winners that helped them cushion their lead, while securing their victory with an Oisín Kinsella goal on 60 minutes.
Réalt na Mara: Luke Hughes; Gearóid Neary, Keelan Kennedy, Dylan Hendy; Brendan Coyne, Tiernan Doyle, James Pender; Seán Og Doyle (1-0), Dylan Hersey-Kenny; Tom Hernandez, Harry Smith, Páuric Murphy (0-3, 1 free); Giovanni Doyle, Andrew Smith (3-0), Cormac Murphy (0-1). Subs. - Paddy Keavey (0-2) for C. Murphy, Oisín Kinsella (1-0) for G. Doyle, also Paddy Blood, Jason Creane, Noah Sinnott, Adam Dempsey, John Walker, Pádraic Baxter, Philip Redmond, Harry Smith, Alex O’Leary.
St. Patrick’s: Cathal Whelan; Angus Byrne, Conall Dunne, Keith Curran; Alex Carton, Noel James, Adam Furlong; Eoin Doyle, Daniel Greene (0-4 frees); Michael Roche (0-1), Steve Donohoe-Kavanagh (0-1), Barry Fitzgerald; Dylan O’Sullivan (1-0), Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Derragh Goff (1-0). Subs. - Tom Waugh (0-1) for Carton, inj., Conor Kelly for Dunne, also James Tomkins, Craig Bailey, Jack Murphy.
Referee: Aidan Foley (Shelmaliers).