St Pauls retained the O’Donnell Cup on Sunday afternoon after coming out on top over St Brigids in a highly enjoyable encounter at Woodlands
Dillon Rogers-Duffy gave his side an early lead before a reply from Joseph Logan from St Brigids who followed up with two more scores from Michael McCann and Peter Molloy to go into the Water break leading 0-3 to 0-1.
St Pauls gained the upper hand following the water break and drew level from an Oisin Cusack score from distance and another Dillon Rogers Duffy free. St Brigids edged head from another Michael McCann free but St Paus hit back straight away to go into the break level at 0-4 each – following an excellent Dillon Rogers Duffy score from play avoiding a block from his marker Jack Hetherington.
St Pauls again started the second period a little stronger and went ahead with two frees from Dillon Rogers Duffy and arguably man of the match Oisin Gamble. To their credit, St Brigids stormed back into the game led by Peter Molloy and Joseph Logan and levelled the game at 0-6 a Leicester heading into the second water break.
The decisive score of the game came just before the water break when St Pauls Darach Casey won another free on the right hand side of the pitch. Oisin Gamble stepped up to score a goal that dropped into the top corner from distance. St Pauls went into the water break a goal ahead at 1-6 to 0-6.
Again St Pauls picked up the first score after the break from a Rogers Duffy free to go four ahead. To their credit, St Brigids rallied and put a lot of pressure on in the closing stages scoring two frees from Conall Taggart and manufacturers a good goal opportunity but for a great save from the St Pauls net minder Shea Kearns.
St Pauls were reduced to 12 men for a second bookable offense which seemed to kick them into gear again with a goal chance from Ben MacManus well saved and arguably the score of the game from play from James McDonnell followed by a closing free from the very accurate Rogers Duffy secured two in row McDonnell Cup triumphs for the Shaws Road lads
