Pats on the Back as they Down St Colman’s

Danske Bank MacRory Cup Play Off
St Pat’s, Armagh 1-13 – 2-09 St Colmans College, Newry

Match report by Peter McGrath Jnr

St Pat’s Armagh ground out a hard fought victory over St Colmans College at a wet and windy Burren on Saturday afternoon.

The momentum of the game shifted on several occasions but the winners will be particularly pleased with their response having conceded a second goal inside the last ten minutes of normal time. There was lots of good tackling throughout and not just by defenders. Cormac Murphy, Caomh Agnew and Cathoir Hughes were among those who forced turnovers for St Pat’s while Niall Macauley, Danny Doyle and Eoin Duffy were among those to turn ball over for St Colman’s. Referee Martin McNally let the game flow and that allowed players on both sides to enjoy the rough and tumble of a physical battle.

In the early moments St Pat’s had plenty of possession and almost got the opening score when Oisin Gribben palmed onto the post after Ruairi McGrane’s effort dropped into the goalmouth. When the first point did come, it was at the other end. Dylan Cunningham was the eventual scorer but the key move that instigated the chance was a brilliant forward surge from Danny McFerran. St Pat’s levelled through Matthew Daly after a quick counter attack and led when Cathoir Hughes popped over from one of Caomh Agnew’s turnovers in the College defence.

Danny Doyle and Daly traded points prior to the opening goal of the game arriving nine minutes before the break. And it came in some style. Dylan Cunningham made a great catch from a St Pat’s kickout and took off towards goal. The other defenders stayed with their own men, allowing space for the College midfielder to attack before he unleashed a thumping effort from 20 metres to the bottom corner. Cathoir Hughes offered an immediate response with a point but Harry Fearon was on target for St Colman’s to edge them back to a two point lead.

As the wind continued to whip across the field, bringing with it cold droplets of winter rain, the players continued to battle valiantly onfield, against each other and the elements.

James Daly pointed from a free for the Armagh school and the game may well have been levelled a minute later only for a brilliant Cormac McCartan block on Caomh Agnew’s boot as the centre half forward attempted to unleash a shot. Harry Fearon and Cathoir Hughes swapped points before the break, though Hoo I’ll ughes could have gone for goal after spinning away from his marker but opted instead to take the simple point. At the break, St Colman’s led by the minimum; 1-4 – 0-6.

In the second half, St Pat’s were the better side. They eventually got a goal after missing several half chances and, on the whole, their decision making and ball retention was better too.

That said, it was the men in blue who made the first meaningful foray forward but Harry Fearon saw his effort bravely blocked by Tiernan Moore but they still got the first score through full back, Cathal Dorrian. Dorrian carried the ball into the St Pat’s defence and, as had been the case for the St Colman’s goal in the first half all defenders in the area stayed with their men rather than closing down the man on the ball and Dorrian had the simplest of tasks tapping over.

The College then had their keeper, Finn Morgan-Longfield to thank for keeping them ahead. Matthew Daly did great work down the right wing to create a chance for himself but his shot at goal was saved by the goalie, flicked onto the post and the rebound fell favourably for the College who were able to clear and Eoin Duffy stretched their lead to three points soon after at the other end.

That was to be as good as it got for the Blues. Danny McGurgan got St Pat’s first score after the restart on 39 minutes, ending a comedy of errors with an important point. First, St Colman’s coughed up possession cheaply in their own full back line then the St Pat’s player in possession failed to see McGurgan free at the back post. When he was eventually spotted, several defenders had seen it too but the fist pass was attempted and somehow reached McGurgan bouncing over outstretched legs and arms as it bobbled through the now-crowded penalty area and the full forward finally restored calm, slotting it over the bar. Aodhan McGrane halved the deficit from two to one but an Eoin Duffy free helped push St Colman’s back to arms length.

Then came the goal St Pat’s had been threatening. Cathoir Hughes did great work to hold of several challenges as he attacked the goal and, had the presence of mind to fist the ball across to Ryan McQuade who was able to execute the back post tap in.

Five scoreless minutes elapsed before what felt like it could be a huge moment exploded from nowhere. Finding themselves frustrated, Conor McCartan decided to try an ambitious shot for the college from a difficult area wide on the right. Always appearing as if it may drop short, a gust of wind caught the ball and that change of trajectory flummoxed goalkeeper, Niall Murphy, who was unlucky to find himself picking the ball out of the back of his net after it dropped just below the bar.

After seeing an effort for a point rebound off the post and cleared thereafter, St Pat’s could have been forgiven for feeling it wasn’t their day but they refused to lie down, Eglish’s James Daly pointing to leave one in it with seven to play. St Colman’s then had a succession of attacks repelled including one that looked as if it may result in a goal but in a battle of the Murphy’s, St Pat’s keeper Niall did brilliantly to deny St Colman’s Daire.

Aodhan McGrane levelled the game, showing an impressive turn of foot late in the game to streak clear of the attentions of the College defenders and nipped over from a central area. A brace of scores from close range from Brian Og McGuckin had St Pats two up. Between those points, Aodhan Carson Gallagher had made another important block to deny a Harry Fearon effort from reaching the goal. Two minutes into injury time, Aodhan McGrane seemed to have put the game to bed with a fisted point to make the margin three but a fabulous Daire Murphy two-pointer set up the grandstand finish. St Colman’s piled on the pressure but they were unable to penetrate for the score they so badly needed. For St Pat’s, who now progress to the post-Christmas phase of the MacRory Cup this win was the perfect tonic after they had shipped a heavy defeat at the hands of Abbey CBS last week.