Senior Football League
Division One
Dunloy 1-11 St Paul’s 2-11
Wednesday 13 May
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
A disciplined second half performance from St Paul’s ensured they would seal their second league win of the season. The visitors held a three point lead at the interval but Dunloy had a considerable wind advantage at their back for the second period. St Paul’s were excellent after the interval however and while the home side will be disappointed with a number of shots going astray as they chased the game, the Shaws Road men were deserving of their victory.
Caoimhin Duffy would finish top of the scoring charts for St Paul’s, finishing the hour with 1-5 while midfielder James Farrell scored their other major. Ciaran Rogers-Duffy and Mark Munce excelled for the Shaws Road side while second half substitute Conall Finnegan gave them a semblance of control. Dunloy were well into double figures for wides in the second half as they looked to make inroads into that St Paul’s lead but they were restricted to four points in the second half in the face of an organised St Paul’s defence. Paudie McGilligan was their best performer, the Dunloy midfielder’s performance in the first half in particular outstanding with a series of high catches while Conor Kinsella and Nigel Elliott also excelled.
Despite playing into the strong wind, the Cuchullains made a bright start to the contest with Donnach Laverty splitting the uprights for the opening score of the game. St Paul’s were content to soak up any Dunloy pressure but when they turned over the ball, they broke at speed and were willing to kick long into the forward line. James Farrell’s goal came in the fourth minute and down to those circumstances as he played a one-two with Conall Duffy before lashing the ball to the back of the net.
A free from Rogers-Duffy followed and while Conor Hughes also added his name to the score sheet, a brace of points from Laverty kept Dunloy in touch by the 13th minute.
The Cuchullains goal came in the next attack and it owed much to the predatory instincts of Karl Fitzpatrick. Tom McFerran looked to jink his way through the St Paul’s defence and while his effort looked to be dropping short, Fitzpatrick stole in on the blindside to palm the ball into the back of the net.
St Paul’s responded well however with Caoimhin Duffy restoring parity in the next attack. The second St Paul’s goal came in the 19th minute and while it was taken well, it came as a result of Dunloy’s own doing. A kickout from McMahon was collected inside the 40 meter arc and from the resulting free, St Paul’s went for the jugular. Rogers-Duffy’s effort came back off the crossbar but Caoimhin Duffy was first to the rebound and made no mistake.
Dunloy responded well however with points coming from Nigel Elliott and Fitzpatrick either side of a two pointer from Caoimhin Duffy.
The home side added further points from McFerran and Fitzpatrick while Rogers-Duffy and Caoimhin Duffy found their range for St Paul’s before the interval. It could have been a greater advantage for St Paul’s but Caoimhin Duffy’s effort was superbly saved by Chrissy McMahon between the sticks for Dunloy before the ball would spiral over the bar.
With only three points between the sides at the short whistle, Dunloy would have been content and well placed to take the league points. They reduced the St Paul’s lead to the minimum when Jack Martin fired over from outside the 40 meter arc for the home sides first two pointer of the game in the second minute but incredibly, the home side would register just two further points in the time that remained.
A free from Tom McFerran restored parity to the score line in the 10th minute of the second half but as St Paul’s began to take a stranglehold of the game in the middle third and force turnovers, they began to make the score board tick once more. Points followed from Rogers-Duffy, Conall Finnegan and Shea Burns as the Dunloy attack floundered.
The home side continued to look for ways into a well drilled St Paul’s defence but their radar was off on the night and a number of efforts dropping short.
A free from Eoghan McGrath in the 49th minute was their last score of the contest and while St Paul’s didn’t fare much better at the other end of the pitch, they held the Cuchullains at bay. Caoimhin Duffy taking his personal tally to 1-5 for the game with the last score of the contest to ensure a St Paul’s victory.
Dunloy will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they travel to Moneyglass next Wednesday while St Paul’s will welcome All Saint’s to the Shaws Road on the same evening.
TEAMS
Dunloy
Starting XV: Chrissy McMahon; Michael Trainor, Sean Og Blaney, Cathair McCloskey; Aaron Crawford, Ryan McGarry, Conor Kinsella; Ciaran McQuillan, Paudie McGilligan; Jack Martin, Tom McFerran, Nigel Elliott; Eoghan McGrath, Karl Fitzpatrick, Donnach Laverty
Scorers: K Fitzpatrick 1-2, D Laverty 0-3, J Martin 0-2 (1xTP), T McFerran 0-2 (1f), N Elliott 0-1, E McGrath 0-1 (1f)
St Paul’s
Starting XV: Jack McAulfield; Cian McCann, Aodhan Kavanagh, Micéal Duffy; Niall McKenna, Mark Munce, Ciaran Rogers-Duffy; James Farrell, Conor Hughes; Caoimhin Killyleagh, Conall Duffy, Pearse Duffy; Caoimhin Duffy, Lorcan Phillips, Shea Burns
Scorers: Caoimhin Duffy 1-5 (1xTP), C Rogers-Duffy 0-3 (2f), J Farrell 1-00, C Hughes 0-1, S Burns 0-1, Conall Finnegan 0-1
Referee: Paul McNally (Creggan)
To see more of Brendan’s images from the game, follow this link….
https://myalbum.com/album/3vzdGktfS5u8LH/?invite=aa6bea1c-6530-40ac-8a36-7815b38eb298