St Pat’s storm to victory to book their place in final

at Dunbur Park brilliant save from the goalckeeper which resulted in a 65 that failed to register a score.

With both defences on top which left scores scarce and saw only one point scored over the next six minutes from top marksmen Andy OBrien and John Rowney, who scored a point each which saw the scoreline read 1-2 to 0-4 at the end of the first quarter.

With both managers urging their players on it was the visitors that responded when they struck for a goal when Patrick Hyland, a name very familiar in Wicklow circles, found the net to give his side a two-point cushion.

At this stage St Patrick’s showed some of their team play as they upped the tempo but were guilty of some bad shooting before Andy O’Brien landed two points, one from a free, to bring the sides level at 1-4 each.

The winners once again upped the tempo and went on to dominate in most sectors when they hit a golden spell which saw the blue and whites, despite playing against the breeze, score three points in row, two from Andy O’Brien from frees, while corner-forward George O’Connor added one from play.

A brief rally by the visitors saw their top player John Rowney, who had played havoc in the home defence, score two points to reduce the deficit.

The winners closed the scoring with a point deep into injury time, when Andy O’Brien landed a score from play which left the home side leading 1-8 to 1-6 at half-time.

Just as they did in the opening minutes of the first half the visitors took the game to their opponents from the start of the second half, which resulted in a point each being scored by Enda McEvoy and John Rowney, both from play, to bring the sides level at 1-8 each six minutes into the second half.

At this stage the winners took the game in their stride which saw the Wicklow town side batten down the hatches with a solid defence, a hard working midfield pairing of Ricky Quinn and Christy Moorehouse, who gave the forwards a good supply, who started to work as a unit and it was only a matter of time before scores would come.

George Connors started the ball rolling with a point from play while county player George O’Brien showed what a class act he is when he added two points from play while corner-forward Jim O’Brien also added a single to give the winners a four-point lead, 1-12 to 1-8.

Lively forward George O’Brien continued to cause havoc when he split the visitors defence which resulted in a free which would prove costly as the in form Andy O’Brien pointed the placed ball, while Jim O’Brien also showed his team mates how to take a score when he landed a point from out on the side to open up a six-point lead of 1-14 to 1-8.

Danny Larkin, a second half substitute, plucked a score with a point from play which proved to be the last score for a while as the winners took control again and they went on to add four points in row through Andy O’Brien from a 65, younger brother George added his third point from play, while wing-back Michael Connors scored a mighty point from play from almost eighty metres while John Dee O’Brien who had started in goal in the opening quarter scored a point from play.

Another substitute PJ Fitzpatrick replied with a point for the visitors, which saw the winners leading 1-18 to 1-10 as the game entered it final minutes. It was only fitting that top scorers John Rowney and Andy O’Brien should exchange a goal each.

The end result saw St Patrick’s run out worthy winners a in good all round team performance in a keenly-contested game that had everything for the spectators present while referee Ciaran Manley deserves credit for his handling of the game.

St Patrick’s manager Michael Neary with be happy with this result as he team showed great commitment and passion and their work rate was first class to achieve this win.

Scorers - St Patrick’s: Andy O’Brien (1-9, three frees, one 65), Jim O’Brien (1-2), George O’Brien (0-3), George O’Connor (0-2), Michael Connors (0-1), John Dee O’Brien (0-1).

Clonaslee/St Manman’s: John Downey (1-7, four frees), Patrick Hyland (1-0), Enda McEvoy (0-2), PJ Fitzpatrick (0-1).

St Patrick’s: John Dee O’Brien, Tomas Keogh, John Connors, Andrew Conway, Michael Connors, Gerrry Connors, George O’Brien, Ricky Quinn, Christy Moorehouse, George O’Brien, James Bonner O’Brien, John O’Brien, George Connors, Andy O’Brien, James Jimzer O’Brien. Subs used: Eoghan O’Mahoney, Dale Quinn, John Dee O’Brien, Niall Hanton.

Clonaslee/St Manman’s: Martin Fallon, Jonathan Carroll, Ciaran Hyland, Mark McEvoy, Shane Conroy, Conor Hyland, Willie Young, Michael Hyland, Dermot Conroy, John Rowney,Enda McEvoy, Patrick Hyland, Conor Dunne, John Molloy. Subs used: PJ Fitzpatrick, Derek Fallon. Sean Condron.

Referee: Ciaran Manley (Glenealy.