St. Michaels 1-06, St. Patricks 3-07

This B-league encounter took place in Stamullen on a windy wet night  between St Patricks and St Michaels. Both teams were searching for their first wins in the competition following first round defeats.

Credit to both teams whose work-rate and effort was commendable but battling the breeze and intermittent gusts was the main talking point from the game in what was “not a night for football”.

Heavy rain was falling during both teams’ warm-ups but this changed shortly after throw-in when the rain stopped only to give way to a strong gusty wind blowing in favour of the Michaels men.

St Michaels started the brightest and went into a three point advantage with two converted frees from Ben Farrell and a well taken point from Paddy Tobin. St Pats then began to make in-roads against the breeze with St Michaels forced into defending deep. A shot destined for a point violently dipped at the last second with a gust under the cross-bar for the game’s opening goal. St Pats followed up with another well taken point. Farrell leveled matters with another point to leave the sides all square at the half-time break.

The second half again began brightly for St Michaels with Farrell scoring a point from play but then with the wind conditions worsening St Pats began to dominate scoring with a further four points without reply. The second St Pats goal came from a blocked shot that bounced in off the upright. The third goal, again hitting the upright was a well struck shot from outside the 20m line hit low and hard by the St Pats no 9 who was excellent throughout the game. St Michaels hit back with a goal of their own scored by Jamie Farrelly followed by another free from Farrell. A comeback was on the cards but St Pats closed the game out with two further scores.

St Michaels will feel the seven point loss was not a true reflection after having played well but will rue not playing more direct football in the first half. St Patricks nonetheless were the deserved winners as they took their chances well. They will look forward to their next outing against Na Fianna, the joint league leaders. The Carlanstown/Kilbeg men will entertain Moynalvey at home in the next round and will hope to get their first win.

 St. Michaels team & scorers: Gavan Sweeney; Anthony Briody, Daithi O'Reilly, Mark Stafford; Harry Dunne, Paddy Callaghan, Ciaran O'Reilly; Ben Reilly, Paddy Clarke; Paddy Tobin (0:1), Ray Reilly, Ben Tobin; Ben Farrell (0:5, 3 frees) , Lee Morris, Justin McPhillips

Subs: Jamie Farrelly (1:0) for Ben Tobin, Bryan Reilly for Mark Stafford, Caolan McConnell for Anthony Briody, Kevin Cassidy for Ray Reilly, Scott Doyle for Justin McPhillips, Conor Gaffney for Lee Morris.

Report: Eoin O'Sullivan

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