St Patricks make promising start to 2013

Post date: Feb 24, 2013 4:31:53 PM

St Patrick's 6-17 2-9 Na Fianna

St Patrick's overcame Na Fianna by twenty points on Sunday morning in Geashill in the opening round of the U21 championship.

Na Fianna were first on the score board after just two minutes when the referee awarded their shot wide, despite it being at least four foot wide. Dean Cummins responded for the reds but three minutes later Na Fianna restored their lead. Scores courtesy of Sean Moriarty, Ciaran Hurley(2), Derek Kelly and Stuart Cullen fired St Patricks into a 0-6 0-3 lead.

Sloppy defending from Patricks allowed Na Fianna in for a goal to close the deficit to the minimum but points from Dan Nolan and Stuart Cullen before a Sean Doyle restored a five point lead. Sean Moriarty his his second of the game and on the stroke of half time an Aaron O'Connell point left seven between the sides at the interval.

Half Time:

St Patricks 1-10 1-3 Na Fianna

Na Fianna reduced St Patrick's lead to five in the opening two minutes of the second half but Stuart Cullen's third of the game but Pat's back six points in front. There was just one between the sides after ten points when Na Fianna hit 1-2 without reply and all of a sudden this game was in the balance and looking like a contest. St Pat's responded immediately with vital points from Ciaran Hurley, Gary Blong and Derek Kelly before substitute Daniel 'Red' Ryan rattled the net for Pats and gave the reds a comfortable six point lead.

Goals from Sean Doyle and Daniel 'Red' Ryan either side of Stuart Cullen point put this game to bed as a contest and Dean Cummins and Sean Moriarty added further goals to put a nice gloss on the scoreline.

Ciaran Hurley and Stuart Cullen added their fourth and fifth of the game respectively and St Patrick's ran out comfortable twenty point winners.

This game should have been over after ten minutes as Pat's were by far the more dominant team but were punished in the first half for given away possession along with some debatable decisions going against them.

Team:

Ciaran Cummins, Ross Mangan, Dan Nolan(0-1), Andrew Forde, Gary Blong(0-1), Peter O'Neill, Sean Moriarty(1-2), Derek Kelly(0-2), Cian Lawton, Ciaran Hurley(0-4), Stuart Cullen(0-5), Aaron O'Connell(0-1), Sean Doyle(2-0), Dean Cummins(1-1), Oran Lawton.

Subs: Matthew O'Grady for Ross Mangan, Daniel Ryan(2-0) for Aaron O'Connell, Ciaran Farrell for Oran Lawton