OB Construction IFC Group 4
St. Teresa’s 1-13 St. Paul’s 1-12
Jay Mallon kept his cool to swing over a close range free in the 32 minute and earn St. Teresa’s their first points in Group 4 of the OB Construction Intermediate Championship at MhicDomhicnaill/UiDoctairigh Park today when they overcame the challenge of St. Paul’s in an excellent game of football.
The home side’s ability to soak up pressure, initiate turnover and manage possession better than their opponents proved to be the difference in the end though St. Paul’s will probably feel they should have something from this game.
St. Paul’s kicked three early wides as they dominated possession early in the game before Paddy Doyle pointed them ahead in the 5th minute but the home side rode the early storm and came back with a vengeance when Anthony Vandell fired to the net with 7 minutes gone when he was quickest to react after the ball had rebounded of the crossbar.
Doyle replied with his second point for the Shaw’s Road side but St. Teresa’s were settling in to the game and Jay Mallon restored their two point advantage when he pointed a close range free in the 9th minute.
Mallon pointed two more frees from a similar distance and Anton Taylor moved the home side 1-4 to 0-2 ahead by the 15th minute despite St. Paul’s enjoying plenty of possession but they were running into traffic and being turned over or guilty of some terrible shooting.
Things improved for the visitors after a water break that had been agreed by both sides as they tried to manage the warm afternoon heat and they hit two on the bounce from Colm McGoldrick and Liam McLarnon to close the gap to three by the 17th minute.
The Shaw’s Road side were dealt a blow when Don Burns was show a black card in the 19th minute and St. Teresa’s extended their lead from the resulting free through Jay Mallon and further points from Sean Maguire and Liam Gault in response to a Paul O’Hanlon point for St. Paul’s had the Glen Road side 1-7 to 0-7 ahead at the interval.
St. Paul’s made all the running during the opening minutes of the second half with Liam McLarnon kicking three points in quick succession to leave it all square with ten minutes gone and the visitors looked to be taking control but a great long distance point from Liam Gault edged St. Teresa’s ahead once more.
Anton Taylor and Jay Mallon from a free moved the home side three in front once more but just when it looked like St. Teresa’s had weathered the storm disaster struck. They failed to deal with a high ball from distance into the danger area and Paddy Doyle was quickest to react as he fired home from close range.
Again Liam McGoldrick’s side found a response as Jay Mallon pointed another free and Anton Taylor followed with another from play before Paul McGoldrick received a black card in the 23d minute.
St. Paul’s were back on level terms once more by the 30th minute as Aodhan Canavan came forward from defence to split the posts and when Paddy Doyle followed from a free the visitors looked favourites to take both points.
The resilience that the home side had displayed throughout came to the fore once more however and they forced another turn over deep in their own defence before breaking forward at pace. They were awarded a free about 20 meters from goal and Jay Mallon kept his cool to kick his 5th point of the afternoon and seal victory for a dogged St. Teresa’s.
St. Paul’s now entertain St. James’ Aldergrove on the 27th August and only a win will do if they harbour any hopes of a quarter-final place while a win or even a draw for the Crumlin side would see them qualify with St. Teresa’s joining them for a quarter-final place.
St. Teresa’s: 1 Odhran O’Neill, 2 Aidan Dougan, 3 Anthony Varndell, 4 Anton Taylor, 5 Colm McGoldrick, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Darren McCann, 8 Sean Maguire, 13 Jay Mallon, 14 Liam Gault, 15 Luke Cassin, 16 Mark Small, 17 Paul Johnston, 18 Paul McGoldrick, 19 Philip Maguire
St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Aodhan Cavanagh, 3 Niall Ward, 4 Miceal Duffy, 5 Cormac O’Hanlon, 6 Don Burns, 7 Mark Munce, 8 Colm McLarnon, 9 James Farrell, 10 Paul O’Hanlon 11 Paddy Doyle, 12 Padraig Lowe, 13 Conall Duffy, 14 Liam McLarnon, Caoimhin Duffy.
Referee: Karol Doherty (Rasharkin)
