Shane Farren from Banagher scores 1-14, while Cathair Friel scores 0-11 (Impressive)

St. Patrick’s travelled to Faughanvale last Thursday night (23rd July) to take on St. Mary’s Banager in the semi final of the under 16 championship. Registering twenty points they failed to secure their place in the final, going down by three points on a score line of 0-20 to 2-17. On the night they were a match for Banager but a dropped ball in defence, the woodwork and a penalty save was the difference between the teams at the final whistle.

Cathair Friel had an outstanding game scoring a personal tally of eleven points and assisting in at least another three points.

Playing with the wind in the first half Banagher started the quicker of the two teams, catching St. Patricks on the back foot. With two minutes on the clock they had a four point lead, scoring 1-1 for no reply. Over the next eight minutes St. Patrick’s played some good football and worked hard as a unit to close the gap. They scored five points, three from frees and two from play to take the lead.

During the next seven minutes between them the teams scored a total of five points (three for Banagher, two for St. Patrick’s) to draw the game level. It was in the last thirteen minutes of the half that Banagher became rampant; outscoring St. Patrick’s eight points to two and securing a six point half time lead (1-12 to 0-9).

The second half started well for St. Patrick’s as they exchanged point for point with Banagher, slowly chipping away at their lead. However, in the tenth minute disaster struck when they failed to field a high ball in defence. The Banagher forwards pounced, the quickest winning the breaking ball and kicked it into the back of the net. Cathair Friel converted two quick points to try and undo the damage, but these were cancelled out straight away with two successive Banagher points.

St. Patrick’s, were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty mid way through the half. The initial spot kick by Conor O’Reilly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, but failed to find the net (hitting the post and going wide). The referee ask for the penalty to be taken again and this time the Banagher goal keeper guessed the correct way and made a fantastic save to his right. The breaking ball fell kindly to Conor who converted it for his second point of the game.

With seven points still between the teams St. Patrick’s dominated the remaining thirteen minutes of the game, out scoring Banagher five points to one (reducing the gap to three points). Cathair Friel had a rasping shot crack off the cross bar, which had it found the back of the net could have tied the game and forced extra time. Lady luck has a part to play in any game and on the night St. Patrick’s just didn’t have the rub of the green.

Unlucky lads!

The Match ........

Banagher won the ball straight from the throw in and kicked a point from thirty yards out. They then went on to score a goal from the resulting kick out, this time lobbing Philip Cook who looked stranded in the net. A good start by Banagher but a disappointing one from St. Patrick’s.

Conor O’Reilly started the revival, converting a thirty-yard free kick, which was won by Cathair Friel. A minute later it was Cathair’s turn to convert a thirty-yard free kick, this time won by Daniel Mullan. Cathair’s next point in the seventh minute was sensational. He ran the length of the pitch, played a one-two with Ciaran Mullan and kicked his second point of the game, his first from open play. Two minutes later he converted a second thirty-yard free kick, this time won by Michael McGonigle. This point drew the teams level at four points all.

St. Patrick’s took the lead in the tenth minute courtesy of a fine short-range score from young Michael O’Kane. The lead only lasted two minutes as a clearance out of defence by Michael McGonigle was blocked down and converted by Banagher. Cathair Friel set Michael Robinson up for his only score of the game to re-establish a one point lead.

Both teams exchanged points in the fifteenth and sixteenth minutes, (St. Patrick’s came courtesy of Alex Moore). Banagher dominated the next twelve minutes scoring seven points for no reply, five of which were from play. Cathair Friel and Conor O’Reilly both converted free kicks to reduce the gap to four points, but Banagher replied with two of their own to send the teams in at half time six points apart (1-12 to 0-09).

The second half can only be described as the ‘Bushy Show’, Cathair Friel scored seven more points for St.Patricks and still ended up on the loosing team. Cathair’s performance should have been good enough to take him and his team to the final. Straight from the throw in, he won the ball and made a darting run straight down the pitch and kicked his first point of the half. Banagher replied immediately from a twenty yard free kick courtesy of a foul from Daryl Mullan.

With five minutes of the second half played Cathair scored his second point of the half, only for it to be cancelled out immediately with yet another Banagher point. Point number three was scored in the eighth minute. Two minutes later Banagher delivered a hammer blow to St. Patrick’s hopes of winning this semi final. Michael McGonigle dropped a high catch in defence and then failed to pick up the loose ball and as a result the Banagher forwards stuck it in the back of the net.

With eight points between the sides Cathair Friel converted two frees, points four and five to reduce the gap, only for Banagher to score two of their own (a feeling of déjà vu). In the last quarter St. Patrick’s dominated outscoring their opponents six points to one.

Conor O’Reilly scored his first point of the second half and his third in the game on sixteen minutes. A minute later he kicked the penalty which was brilliantly saved by the Banagher goalkeeper (after a retake) and watched on as Cathair Friel kicked a point from the rebound (point no. 6).

With six points between the teams (2-16 to 0-16) and with ten minutes left to play St. Patrick’s upped the tempo and dominated in all positions in the park. Pushing for a victory, Cathair Friel made another one of his darting runs and let fly, only for the ball to crash off the cross bar.

Conor O’Reilly kicked a point from play and Cathair Friel one from a forty yard free kick (point no. 6) to reduce the gap to four points. With three minute remaining up popped Conor O’Reilly to kick two beautiful points, reducing the gap to two points.

Banagher kicked an assurance point in the last minute and held on until the final whistle. They had done enough damage at the end of the first half to see them home. Shane Farren for Banagher scored 1-14 on the night.

St. Patrick's
Philip Cooke, Eoin McCloskey, Daryl Mullan, Paul McVeigh; Eoin Ferris, Daniel Mullan, Liam Miller; Cathair Friel (0-11), Michael McGonigle; Michael Robinson (0-01), Conor O’Reilly (0-06), Niall Farren; Ciaran Mullan, Alex Moore (0-01), Michael O’Kane (0-01)