St. Patricks GAA

South Junior A Football Championship

Fethard 0-10 St. Patrick’s 1-07

On Saturday last in Mullinahone, St. Patrick’s and Fethard finished on level terms after a somewhat forgettable game. Moved from Ballingarry due to inclement weather, the Mullinahone pitch was remarkably dry but what a pity the football didn’t live up to expectations.

When these teams last met in the 2008 South Final Fethard proved the better team under lights in Ballyporeen. On Saturday evening last St. Patrick’s dominated for long spells but failed to convert their dominance into scores and were lucky to escape with a draw. St. Patrick’s were first to break away but their only reward was a wide before Connor McCarthy pointed a Fethard free. After 5 minutes Philip Britton pointed a free to equalise.

Over the next 7 minutes each team had 2 wides before Philip Britton was fouled and Tony O’Brien sent the resulting penalty into the Fethard net. St. Patrick’s had two more wides before Fethard had two pointed frees by Conor McCarthy and Eoin O’Connell. St. Patrick’s took control for the remainder of the half and were guilty of three wides before Philip Britton pointed a free after 25 minutes. Tony O’Brien concluded the first half with a well-taken point after a long solo run into the Fethard defence to leave the scores 1-03 to 0-03 in favour of the men from Cloneen and Drangan.

The second half commenced with a Fethard wide followed by a St. Patrick’s point by P.J. Burke. The Saints had another wide and Fethard substitute Aaron O’Donovan had a point A wide followed for each side and Kenneth O’Donnell got two points for Fethard, one from a free. Eoghan McCormack pointed for St. Patrick’s and Kenneth O’Donnell had another Fethard point. The next point was surely the score of the game, when Tony O’Brien shot over from a near impossible angle on the right wing for St. Patrick’s.

Conor McCarthy kept Fethard in touch with another point. A Fethard wide was followed by two similar efforts from St. Patrick’s, who had a point from Eoghan McCormack to finish their scoring for the evening. However Fethard’s determination shone and points by Conor McCarthy and Kenneth O’Donnell ensured a share of the spoils.

This was a game that St. Patrick’s will remember as one in which they kicked a lot of wides when a victory was on the cards. However Fethard must be admired for making the best use of limited possession and a never-say-die attitude that kept them battling when all seemed lost.

Fethard: Ronan Maher, Connie Flynn, Stephen O’Donnell, Tom O’Connor, William O’Brien, Willie Morrissey, John Leahy, Declan Doyle, Peter Gough, Kenneth O’Donnell, Shane Kenny, Eoin O’Connell, Johnny Neville, Conor McCarthy, P.J. Morrissey. Subs used: Aaron O’Donovan, Ben Walsh, Shane Walsh, Philly Blake, Brendan Brett

St. Patrick’s: Richard Needham, Kieran Clancy, Declan Ryan, Tom O’Connor, Noel Brett, Liam Brett, Patrick Moroney, P.J. Burke, Brian McCormack, Robert McCormack, Tony O’Brien, Jason Hayes, Philip Britton, Eoghan McCormack, Shane Gorey. Sub Sean Horan for Shane Gorey.

Referee: Paddy Ivors, Ballingarry.

Clonmel Nationalist, May 30th 2009

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