St Nicholas come out on top of Pat’s after a boisterous battle

Hugh Humby, Matt Traynor and Jack Kelly each added points for the Blues as they upped the tempo.

St Pat’s dominated possession mainly from the home side kick outs and punished the west men with a great goal from the boot of Brian O’Sullivan and a massive point from a 45 for Rory Dowling.

The tackles were flying in thick and fast from both sides. St Nic’s Brian Nolan, Marty Caplis and Daire Wright each chipped in with a point with 22 minutes played.

A schmozzle between a number of players ended with referee Jimmy Lalor issuing two straight red cards to a player off each side, when he restored calm.

Dara Wright scored a point, however, another massive 45 from the boot of corner-back Rory Dowling split the posts in injury time and left the half-time score St. Nic’s 0-06 to St. Pat’s 1-06.

Oisin O’Rourke parried a goal bound shot from St. Pat’s Jack Kelly over the bar.

St Nicholas were making better use of the more open space on the big pitch in Donard now due to the earlier dismissals.

St Nic’s mentor Dave Rousse and Marty Caplis switched Sean O Rourke from number three to full-forward and what a match winning impact it had.

Sean O’Rourke burst through the Blues defence and goaled twice in two minutes. Shortly after St Pat’s were reduced to 13 men. Jack Kelly pointed a free for St Pats, however, a point from Henry Healy and another rocket of a goal for O Rourke to make his hat-trick with 55 minutes played as the decibels rose tenfold on the sidelines keeping Jimmy Lalor alert.

Jack Dunne replied with a goal for Pat’s before man of the match Sean O Rourke hit his fourth goal in the second half to bring an end to this titanic battle.

St Nic’s: Oisin O’Rourke; Shane O’Rourke, Sean Rourke (4-00), Mark Reid; Paddy Healy, Mark O’Sullivan, Jason Huntley; Henry Healy (0-01), Shane Figgis; Tom Lawlor, Brian Nolan (0-04), Marty Caplis (0-02); Daire Wright (0-03), Karmen Griffin, Stephen Doyle. Subs: Oisin Sinnott, Camron Phelan.

St Pat’s: Daire Reardon; Rory Dowling (002), Cian Reynolds, Ross O Toole; JJ Power, Hugh Humby (0-01), Colin O’Toole; Reese Kelly, Matt Traynor (0-01); Jamie Power, Jack Kelly (0-03), Sean Fitzpatrick; Eoin McAuley, Brian O’Sullivan (1-02), Jack Dunne (1-00). Subs: Rossa Marrom (0-01), Adam Copeland, Rian Sweetman Burke. Venue: Jim Mills Memorial Park Ref: Jimmy Lalor (Clonmore)