County champions off to a very bright start
ST PATRICK’S 1-10 BALTINGLASS 0-9
A well worked goal, made by John Crowe and Paudge McWalter and finished by Tommy Kelly five minutes from time, proved to be the decisive score in an enjoyable and well contested SFL Division 1 encounter played at Dunbur Park on Sunday last.
Played on a firm dry sod in pleasant sunshine, the only drawback was a stiffish breeze blowing upfield away from the town goal.
This made it difficult for forwards shooting into this goal. Baltinglass drew first blood when John McGrath opened the scoring after four minutes, but it proved to be their only score until three minutes from the half-time break.
Points from Tommy Kelly, Stephen Duffy, John Crowe and two in a row from Kelly again left the Wicklow town men 0-5 to 0-1 ahead after 20 minutes. Their rearguard were very much in control in front of their goal with Baltinglass unable to create scoring chances.
The Slaneysiders did have ample possession in two thirds of the field, but that final third was proving difficult for them. In contrast St. Pats with John Crowe, Paul Earls, Matt Traynor, Paudge McWalter, Stephen Duffy and Tommy Kelly pulling the strings, kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Shane Morley and Stephen Duffy added two more points by 24 minutes to leave the home side six points to the good. The Slaneysiders staged a bit of a rally coming up to the break. Dan Kelly pointed a free and full-back Kevin Murphy closed the scoring for the half when he came forward to shoot another point.
Baltinglass were 0-7 to 0-3 adrift at this stage but they went on to raise their game considerably in the second period.
A point by John McGrath following a mark and two pointed frees from Daniel Kelly and Adam McHugh had the visitors only one point in arrears after ten minutes. It was now a different game and Baltinglass were gaining in confidence.
Jordan Deans and Sean Doody were keeping the pressure on from midfield and Baltinglass forwards were getting on more ball and looking much more dangerous than in the opening half. However, Pats remained calm and Paudge
McWalter lifted the siege when he pointed after 13 minutes.
This was almost a 20-minute period that they had gone scoreless.
Centre back John Crowe added another point two minutes later and the gap was back out to a goal at 0-9 to 0-6. The green and whites continued to press, and John McGrath reduced the leeway again with a point on 20 minutes.
Then came the decisive score. John Crowe drove forward at the heart of the Baltinglass defence. He set up Paudge McWalter who soloed in on goal and shot. His effort was well saved by the advancing William Rodgers, but the ball spun across goal where the incoming Tommy Kelly had the simple task of knocking home the only goal of the game.
Pats could now breathe easier but Jordan Deane and Daniel Kelly from a free brought the margin down to a goal before a converted Stephen Duffy free in the first minute of added time left the home side winners by four points.
This was an enjoyable game with St. Pats looking very comfortable for long periods but Baltinglass will be pleased that they recovered so well in the second half. Scorers - St. Patricks: Tommy Kelly 1-3, Stephen Duffy 0-3, John
Crowe 0-2, Shane Morley and Paudge McWalter 0-1 each.
Baltinglass: John McGrath 0-3, Dan Kelly 0-3, Kevin Murphy, Adam McHugh, Jordan Deane 0-1 each.
ST. PATRICKS: Shane Doyle; Wayne Doyle, Shane Morley, Jem Kavanagh; Aidan Dunne, John Crowe, Ciaran Doyle; Paul Earls, Matt Traynor; Paul O’Brien, Paudge McWalter, Luca Rampersaud; Brian Doyle, Stephen Duffy, Tom Kelly. Subs: Conor O’Brien, Jack Dunne, Niall Earls, Niall Delahunt. BALTINGLASS: William Rodgers; David Gethings, Kevin Murphy, John Murray; Karl Furlong, Tadhg O’Toole, Tom Burke; Jordan Deane, Sean Doody; Daniel Kelly, Stephen Heaslip, Cian Lee; Adam McHugh, John McGrath, John Keogh. Subs: Aaron Barrett, Liam Fisher, Jason Steed.
REFEREE: Noel Kinsella (Kilbride)