Pat’s push on with late scoring flourish

ST. PATRICK’S ST. JAMES’ 2-7 1-5

ST. PATRICK’S battled their way into the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘B’ football championship final at the expense of St. James’ in a well-contested encounter in Bree on Friday.

In a tight, low-scoring contest, St. Patrick’s fired home the game’s final five scores as they edged out their Ramsgrange opponents and booked their final spot against Buffers Alley.

It took a while for this game to really intensify, but St. Patrick’s definitely started on the front foot.

They thumped three attempts wide in the opening two minutes before Stephen Kavanagh finally steadied his side’s nerves by kicking the game’s first point.

That score certainly didn’t open the floodgates, as in the next 15 minutes of play only Conor Morris managed to find the target for either side, doubling St. Patrick’s lead after regaining the ball in an advanced position.

St. James’ did the majority of their damage in a four-minute spell in the first-half, which began in the 19th minute.

Jason O’Grady, Jamie Wallace and Michael O’Grady all scored points in quick succession before a mis-hit James Fitzgerald effort was spilled into the net by Dan Chisholm, giving the men in green a four-point lead out of almost nowhere (1-3 to 0-2).

The Ballyoughter side re-grouped and finished the half with one crucial score, as Ian Maguire found the net after Michael Fitzpatrick had won the aerial battle in around the St. James’ goalmouth.

John Martin briefly had the sides level soon after the re-start, but two quickfire Michael O’Grady points nudged St. James’ back ahead (1-5 to 1-3).

But, from that moment on, it was wave after wave of purple and gold. Both Ollie Gahan and Michael Fitzpatrick should have risen the green flag before Fergal Maguire made it a one-point game.

The introduction of Cian Hogan proved to be crucial for St. Patrick’s. He was a constant threat going forward and added three points from placed balls to turn the game on its head (1-7 to 1-5).

Naturally, St. Patrick’s had to survive a little bit of late pressure, including two St. James’ shots against the upright, but as the trailing side went in search of a goal they left gaps in defence.

Those gaps were found by St. Patrick’s on the counter, and they were punished when Fergal Maguire set up Gahan to seal their side’s final spot with a low finish to the ‘keeper’s right.

St. Patrick’s: Dan Chisholm; Niall O’Leary, Liam Fitzpatrick, Michael Doyle; Parish Flynn, Kyle Byrne (capt.), Lorcan Hamilton; John Martin (0-1), Stephen Kavanagh (0-1); Conor Morris (0-1), Dermot O’Leary (1-0), Ollie Gahan (1-0); Michael Fitzpatrick, Ian Maguire (1-0), Fergal Maguire (0-1). Subs. - Cian Hogan (0-3, 2 frees, 1 ‘45) for Doyle (34), John Cousins for M. Fitzpatrick (44), David Graham for Hamilton (59).

St. James’: Noel Holohan; Joe Kehoe, Adam Long, Des Foley; Conor Crosbie, Willie Murphy (capt.), Adam Foley; Robert Murphy, John Power; Jason O’Grady (0-1), James Fitzgerald, Philip Molloy; Jamie Wallace (0-1), Jack O’Brien, Michael O’Grady (0-3). Subs. - Stuart Dunning for Power (58), Michael Foley for O’Grady (59).

Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).