The minors (St. Patrick’s) started their championship campaign tonight at home to Faughanvale and got off to a fantastic start. They ran out victors by five points, scoring a total of fifteen points (thirteen from play). Apart from a slight scare three minutes into the game when they conceded a goal, they never looked like loosing this match.

Eion Ferris marshalled his defence magnificently, snuffing out every attacking opportunity Faughanvale created. Cahir Mullan and Donald ‘Duck’ Brolly dominated midfield, driving forward at every opportunity. The off the ball running by the forwards was first-rate. They were rewarded with a total of ten points. Conor O’Reilly was in fantastic form scoring six points (five from play).

The Match

With only three minutes on the clock St. Patrick’s found themselves trailing by three points. A slip in defence by Eion Ferris proved costly, allowing the Faughanvale forward to chase down the fifty/fifty ball with the St. Patrick’s keeper Eunan O’Hara. The forward won the chase, just; toe poking the ball over the keepers head and into the back of the net.

The response was immediate; Cahir Mullan scored from play on four minutes. Faughanvale scored two additional points to give them a four point lead. Daniel Mullan was punished for dissent and the ball was brought forward to the twenty one yard line, while Enda Butcher fouled close to goal.

From this point on the young minors from Drumsurn and Drum never looked back. A tit for tat scoring frenzy evolved …

Ciaran Ferris scored from play with ten minutes gone and then two; twenty one yard scores from Conor O’Reilly reduced the difference to one point. Faughanvalue converted yet another twenty one yard free, but straight from the kick out Conor O’Reilly scored his third point from play.

Cahir Mullan converted a forty five yard free to draw the team’s level at six points all. From the kick out the same player caught the ball and made a solid run straight through the Faughanvale defence. His final pass found Michael McGonigle who duly stuck it over the bar to put St. Patrick’s in the lead for the first time in the half.

A Faughanvale short free kick on twenty two minutes was converted to draw the team’s level, just before the half time whistle.

Half Time: Drumsurn 0-07 Faughanvale 1-04

St. Patrick’s were the quickest out of the blocks in the second half, scoring five points from play for no reply from Faughanvale. The pairing of Conor O’Reilly and Cahir Mullan converted in the fifth and sixth minute.

On eight minutes Enda Butcher broke out of defence on a good run, finding Cahir Mullan with his pass, who in turn laid the ball off to Ciaran Ferris on the over lap to convert his second point of the game. A minute later it was the turn of Ryan O’Reilly and Cahir Friel to get on the score sheet, before Faughanvale registered their first point of the second half on thirty seven minutes.

With ten minutes remaining in the second half Conor O’Reilly registered his fifth point, again from play to re-establish the five point lead. Faughanvale converted two free kicks to reduce the gap between the teams to three points. With two minutes remaining on the clock up popped Cahir Mullan once again with the insurance point.

Three minutes into added time Conor O’Reilly converted a thirty yard free kick to top off a memorable performance from him.

This was a good solid performance and a well deserved victory. At no point in this game did the young minor team panic. The defence need to curb their fouling, Faughanvale scored five of their seven points from short range free kicks.

With the league campaign over (short as it was) it was good to see the minors extend their season. Keep it up St. Patrick’s and good luck in the next round. Don’t forget the Carlin Duffy cup final is imminent so practice makes perfect.

Team and scorers
Eunan O'Hara, Eion Ferris, Daryl Mullan, Danial Mullan; Enda Butcher, Ciaran Ferris (0-2), Craig Chewing; Donald Brolly, Cahir Mullan (0-4); Alex Moore, Ryan O'Reilly (0-1), Conor O'Reilly (0-6); Michael McGonigle (0-1), Cahir Friel (0-1), Seamus O'Kane

Subs
Caolan McLaughlin for Seamus O'Kane