St. Paul's take a share of the spoils in Junior Championship opener.

 

On Friday evening last in perfect conditions for football, St. Pauls played out a 1-8 to 1-8 draw with north Westmeath rivals Ballycomoyle. St. Pauls went into this championship opener as red hot favorites but the Ballycomoyle refused to read the form book and will be disappointed they didn't come away with maximum points.

 

Ballycomoyle started the game the stronger and opened the scoring in the 1st minute with a well taken point from play. St. Pauls, playing against a slight breeze settled into their game with a point from play by Conor Rice on 2 minutes and a converted free from Johnny McGuinness 2 minutes later. But Ballycomoyle refused to let St. Pauls dictate the game and in the next 7 minutes they scored 1-2 without reply leaving them ahead on a score line of 1-3 to 2 points after 15 minutes of play. To St. Pauls credit, they managed to stop the rot and came back to score 4 unanswered points including a pointed free again by Johnny McGuinness on 18 minutes, a great point from play from Conor Slater on 25 minutes and 2 more points from play from Kenny Higgins (28 minutes) and Jack Clancy (30 + 2 mins). Referee Rob Cornally was called into action just before half time when St. Pauls number 5, Jack Clancy and a Ballycomoyle player were both shown red cards for an off the ball incident. By the time the teams went in for their half time break it was all square on a scoreline of St. Pauls 0-6 Ballycomoyle 1-3. After some much needed soul searching at half time, the St. Pauls players started the second half strongly and were rewarded with a penalty after 5 minutes from a foot block on Niall Leonard's goal attempt which was expertly put away by Kenny Higgins. But again, Ballycomoyle refused to lie down and replied with 2 pointed frees on the 40th and 43rd minute respectively. St. Pauls extended their lead to two points with a converted Johnny McGuinness free in the 49th minute but as was the story throughout this match Ballycomoyle came back and scored 3 points without reply from frees on the 52nd, 55th, 57th minute leaving them leading by a single point heading into the closing stages. A well taken point from St. Pauls full-back Robbie Dugdale brought the teams level again heading into injury time where both teams spurned chances to get the crucial score that would win them the game with St. Pauls Conor Shaw particularly unlucky to kick wide with time almost up.

 

So it's a point each for both teams after their opening game which no doubt will please Ballycomoyle more so than St. Pauls as they were rank outsiders coming into this game. St. Pauls can take some positives out of this game such as their ability to get the late equalizer and the performances of players such as Gary Dugdale, Paddy Reilly and especially Kenny Higgins who turned in a man of the match performance with the converted penalty, a point from play and 2 crucial dispossessions in the second half. Next up for St. Pauls is the Championship Round 2 encounter with Multyfarnham next Saturday where a significant improvement on Fridays performance will be required by all players if they are to get anything from the game.

 

The St. Pauls team that lined out against Ballycomoyle was as follows:

Ollie Mulvaney, Ronnie Higgins, Robbie Dugdale (0-1), Ross Daly, Jack Clancy(0-1), Ronan Kiernan, Kenny Higgins (1-1 pen), Conor Slater (0-1), Johnny Fitzpatrick, Ciaran O'Connell, Johnny McGuinness (0-3 3F), Conor Rice (0-1), Niall Leonard, Philip Gilsenan, Micky Travers.

Subs: Paddy Reilly for Ronnie Higgins (15mins), Conor Shaw for Mickey Travers (36mins),Barry Davis for Ciaran O'Connell (47mins), Gary Gilsenan for Barry Davis (B.C. 59mins), Michael Tighe, Eoghan Reilly, Michael Murphy, Conor Buckley.

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