U15 Football League Cup – Division 1Final
St Paul’s 3-12 St Brigid’s 2-12
St Paul’s clinched the Under 15 Division 1 Football League title when they beat Belfast rivals St Brigid’s in Saturday’s final at Dunsilly. In a high quality game the brilliance of full forward and captain Shea Burns, plus two outstanding saves by goalkeeper Adam Carroll, one in the second minute from play and the other in the second half from a penalty, gave St Paul’s the edge against a St Brigid’s side who were excellent in their approach work but relied too heavily on midfielder James Blaney to take their scores.
Peter Mulgrew gave St Brigid’s a lead on thirty seconds and a minute later they appeared to be in for a goal, only for St Paul’s keeper Carroll to turn Joseph Logan’s shot around for a 45. James Blaney added a point from a free for St Brigid’s to put them two clear, despite facing a stiff breeze, but St Paul’s hit back with three quick points, one from full forward Shea Burns and two from corner forward Ciaran Rodgers Duffy, both from frees.
Blaney pointed another free in the 12th minute to bring St Brigid’s level but when Padraig McDonnell finished a good move with a well taken goal a minute later, and Duffy added another point, the Shaw’s Road boys were four clear at the first water break.
An excellent goal from Joseph Mellon after good work by Techin McGarvey brought St Brigid’s back to within a point, but St Paul’s were getting on top and they hit back with a goal and three points without reply, two of the points coming from Burns, one from Duffy and the goal from Padraig McDonnell, which moved them seven clear. St Brigid’s were in a spot of bother but they finished the half strongly with two more Blany points and a goal from Joseph Logan to trail by just a goal at the interval. (2-8 to 2-5)
Another excellent point from Shea Burns at the start of the second half stretched the St Paul’s lead to four, but St Brigid’s rallied and points from play by Joseph Mellon and JJ Higgns, plus two more from Blaney frees, had them level on 43 minutes. With the breeze at their backs the South Belfast side appeared to be in a strong position, but Shea Burns turned the game back in St Paul’s favour just before the second half water break with his team’s third goal from an deft lob that dipped just below the crossbar and into the net.
When Burns added a point from out on the left and Michael Vallely sent one over from close range, St Paul’s seemed secure, but back came St Brigid’s and two from the excellent Blaney left just a goal between the sides. They came within a couple of inches of drawing level when a shot for goal rebounded back off the crossbar, and though Blaney closed the gap to two in injury time a late Burs free sealed the title for St Paul’s
ST PAUL’S
A Carroll, N O’Neill, P McNulty, U O’Malley, C McCann, E McGreevy, O McCann, R Cavanagh, L McAlea, P Crawford, O Casey, P McDonnell, N Carmichael, S Burns, S Rodgers-Duffy.
ST BRIGID’S
L Cullinan, J O’Donaghue, M O’Gorman, C O’Connell, D McGurk, S Doyle, J Mulgrew, J Blaney, O Conlon, T McGarvey, D Quinn, P Mulgrew, J Logan, D Kelly, J Higgins.
Referee – Gerard Dougan (Creggan)
