Louth SFC final: Pat's hold off determined Dreadnots
September 29, 2014
St Pats captain Ray Finnegan lifts the Joe Ward Cup.
ST PATRICKS 1-10
DREADNOTS 1-8
St Patricks claimed their sixth Senior Championship title in 12 seasons when they held off the challenge of a determined Dreadnots in the County Final at Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.
In a game that may not have been one for the purists, there was no shortage of passion, commitment and incident. It was a compelling game for both sets of supporters where the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle.
The Lordship men may have gone into the game as favourites but, as expected, they were pushed all the way by a determined Dreadnots side. However, despite the best efforts of the Clogherhead men, they fell just short for the second time in three seasons as the Joe Ward Cup agonisingly slipped from their grasp.
For St Pats, it was a case of calling on their vast levels of experience, particularly in a low-scoring second half, as they over-turned a one-point deficit at the break. To do so, they required full-blooded displays from each individual, but not for the first time there were particularly impressive contributions from Ray and Dessie Finnegan, and Paddy Keenan along with Man of the Match, Eoin O'Connor.
There is no doubt that the Dreadnots will look back with regret on missed chances, and two of those came in the opening minutes when two efforts fell short. After frees from Paddy Keenan and Eamon Carroll had got Pats off the mark, the Dreadnots had two wides before Paraic Smith got them off the mark from a free.
Aidan McCann added another for the Pats but his side were being caused problems by the Dreadnots running game and by the 13th minute the teams were level at three apiece after James Califf pointed two frees.
The Lordship men looked to have taken control when Danny O'Connor sent over a good point, before he combined with Ray Finnegan to send Eoin O'Connor clear in the 17th minute. The No 15 had the pace and strength to get away from the defence and fired the ball to the back of the net.
Trailing by 1-4 to 0-3, the signs were ominous for the Clogherhead side but fought back with an impressive second quarter display.
Califf sent over two long range frees and although Karl White responded with a fisted effort, the game turned in the final two minutes of the half. On 29 minutes Paraic Smith's free took the Pats defence by surprise when it failed to get the required elevation and went straight into the top corner to level the game.
In the dying seconds, Anthony Williams sent over a fine point - his side's only score from play - to send Dreadnots into the break leading by 1-6 to 1-5.
There were serious questions being asked off the Pats at that stage, but they made it clear that they were up for the challenge as scores from Karl White and Eoin O'Connor (2) had them two in front on 37 minutes.
The Dreadnots just couldn't get into the same rhythm against a very committed defence and their confidence took a dent when Califf failed to get a 13m free over the bar.
At the other end, the Pats failed to take chances to increase their lead, most notably when Karl White fumbled after being sent clear in front of the posts.
With three minutes remaining Califf sent over a free from 45m to reduce the gap to 1-8 to 1-7 and at that stage a draw looked a likely outcome, while Pats lost Paudie Mallon to a black card.
However, the Peninsula men were in no mood to let the game slip and late scores from Keenan and sub Darragh Lafferty gave them breathing space.
The Dreadnots went in search of a goal to rescue the game but the closest they came was Califf went for goal from a 13m free but could only drill his effort over the bar.
As a result, Ray Finnegan, accepted the Joe Ward Cup from club colleague and Co Board Chairman, Padraic O'Connor, to begin a night of celebration in Lordship.
ST PATRICKS: Sean Connor; Kevin Toner, Dessie Finnegan, Darren O'Hanlon; Ray Finnegan, Colin Goss, Eoin Zamboglou; Paddy Keenan 0-2 (1f), Paudie Mallon; Aidan McCann 0-1, Eoghan Lafferty, Karl White 0-2; Eamon Carroll 0-1, Danny O'Connor 0-1, Eoin O'Connor 1-2 (1 45). Subs: Darragh Lafferty 0-1 for E Lafferty, Evan White for P Mallon (BC).
DREADNOTS: Ciaran Cunningham; Derek Shevlin, Padraig Rath, Brian Gargan; Anthony Williams 0-1, Cian McEvoy, Barry Faulkner; James Califf 0-6 (6f), Dermot Campbell; Pat Lynch, Peter Kirwan, Paraic Smith 1-1 (1-1f); Conor Campbell, Liam Shevlin, David O'Brien. Sub: Richard Kirwan for B Gargan.
REFEREE: Kevin Carroll
