Pat’s ease relegation fears ever so slightly

A last gasp score from Ray Finnegan helped the Pats salvage a much needed draw as they moved a point clear of the O’Connells who occupy bottom spot in Division One.

It’s been a disappointing season for both the Blues and the Pats although the Blues have been improving in recent weeks. Remarkably the Pats have won just two league games all season leaving them in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table.

The Lordship side started brightly and were soon four points with Karl White and Cathal Grogan amongst the scorers. The Blues opened their account on ten minutes with Ross Nally making it 0-4 to 0-1 early on. The Pats however were winning most of the breaking balls and they extended their advantage as Aidan McCann, Daragh Lafferty and Karl White made it 0-7 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.

The Blues finished the half strongly however with four points in a row with Stephen Moonan scoring the pick of the bunch with an excellent point from 30 metres out. Karl White’s third point of the game meant the Pats ended the half on a high as they went in 0-8 to 0-5 ahead at thebreak.

Conor Brannigan opened the second half with a couple of early scores to leave the minimum between the sides before the Pats hit back with three scores in a row to re-establish a four point cushion. Once again though the Blues gritted their teeth and began to dominate with Stephen Moonan winning plenty of ball in the middle of the park. From four points down the Blues were suddenly a point ahead with Ross Nally scoring his third point of the game.

With time running out it looked as though Nally’s point would consign the Pats to their sixth defeat in nine games. However, the Lordship outfit still have that champions mentality and they salvaged a draw late on as Ray Finnegan sent over a well taken point which could prove crucial in the Pats fight to stay in division one. NEWTOWN BLUES: Danny Rothwell; Niall Costello, Kevin Carr, Ian Connor; James Murray (0-1), Conor Brannigan (0-3), Paul Moore (0-1); Stephen Moonan (0-2), Brian Kermode; Conor Moore (0-1), Cormac McQuillan, Fergal Donohoe; Ross Nally (0-3), Robert Carr (0-1), Thomas Costello. Subs: Jamie Kelly for F Donohoe, Colm Judge for R Carr.

ST PATRICKS: Sean McGeough; Cormac Barry, Darren O’Hanlon, Kevin White; Eamon Breen, Dessie Finnegan, Ray Finnegan (0-1); Thomas McCann, Cathal Grogan (0-2); Evan White (0-1), Karl White (0-4), Aidan McCann (0-2); Eoin Lafferty, Daragh Lafferty (0-1), Danny O’Connor. Subs: Conor Grogan (0-1) for A McCann, Rory Duffy for K White.