Antrim Intermediate Championship Group 2
St Paul’s 1-13 Pádraig Sarsfields 0-14
By Paul McIntyre
A 63rd minute goal from St Paul’s replacement Paul Donnelly was the decisive score in what proved to be yet another closely, and keenly contested derby against Sarsfields.
Donnelly’s late strike turned out to be the games defining score but the real star of the show was Caolan Ó Duibhfinn. The St Paul’s wing forward claimed all thirteen points for the Shaws Road men. With his teammates having an off day in front of the posts, Ó Duibhfinn showed composure and class to keep his side in the contest when for long periods it looked like the visitors were taking the points back to the Bear Pit.
The game was going to plan for Sarsfields for much of the contest, but an ugly brawl late in the game saw a straight red card to a St Paul’s official and a Sarsfields defender Niall McAlea.
McAlea was having an excellent game up until that point and was doing a superb job in front of his full back line. St Paul’s never got a sniff of goal while he was on the park. But once McAlea’s game was cut short, St Paul’s pounced for 1-3 and throw Group 2 of the Intermediate Championship wide open.
With the tie delicately poised at 0-5 a piece after 20 minutes, it was Sarsfields that took the initiative and race into a four-point lead.
Two Donal McKernan frees and efforts from play from Anthony McGarrigle and Ó Maoláin saw Sarsfields go in that break leading 0-9 to 0-5.
Backed by a stiff breeze in the second half, St Paul’s emerged for the second half with a more gusto to their play.
Two points from Ó Duibhfinn gave them the start to the half that they needed, but again, Donal McKernan was the man to keep daylight between them.
Back came St Paul’s with another Ó Duibhfinn free. Niall McKenna quickly restored Sarsfields three-point cushion, and this pattern continued until the 49th minute when Ó Duibhfinn made it a two-point game with his eleventh point of the game.
The game was then turned on its head in the 51st minute when a disputed sideline call led to a mass brawl. It was five minutes before calm was restored, and after consulting with all of his umpires, referee Colin Thompson sent Sarsfields McAlea to the line while a St Paul’s team official also saw red
McAlea’s absence left a hole in the Sarsfields defence and St Paul’s took full advantage in the third minute of additional time.
Sean Munce picked out Paul Donnelly and his cool finish past Daniel McKernan fired St Paul’s into a one-point lead.
Ó Duibhfinn then extended their lead to two with a fine effort from the right wing.
There was still time for one more Sarsfields attack.
Donal McKernan’s sideline ball dropped into the St Paul’s square, but some last ditch defending prevented the visitors from grabbing a last second goal which would have gained them victory.
Instead, St Paul’s cleared their lines and hung on to record a much-needed victory.
St Paul’s: Chris Murray, Ciaran O’Carroll, Frankie Sewell, Tiarnan Auld, Dáire Stevenson, Stephen Rooney, Thomas Duff, Mark Munce, Declan Quinn, Caolan Ó Duibhfinn (0-13 9F 1 ‘65’), Declan Chapman, Lorcán Phillips, Caolan Crossan, Patrick Doyle, Conall Duffy.
Replacements: Bairre Burns for O’Carroll (29), Sean Munce for Doyle (HT), Paul Donnelly (1-0) for Duffy (48), Conall Finnegan for Chapman (49).
Padraig Sarsfields: Daniel McKernan, Michael Johnston, Jack Daniels, Mark McCavanagh, Garry Lennon, Eoghan Rogers, Caolan McKernan, Anthony McGarrigle (0-1), Nicolas Ó Maoláin (0-3), Oisin Coleman, Daniel Smyth, Niall McKenna (0-1), Fionn Jemfrey, Niall McAlea, Donal McKernan (0-8f).
Replacements: Daniel McKernan (Snr) (0-1) for Smyth (15).
Referee: Colin Thompson (St John’s).
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