The score line tells the complete story of this Minor Championship Football Final. A large crowd turned out to watch what should have been a cracking game only for it to turn out to be a damp squib. It was totally dominated by a very good Foreglen side that did everything right on the night and as a contest was over at half time.

Over the sixty minutes St. Patrick’s didn't click. They didn’t score from play, the one point they did score was courtesy of a poorly taken penalty. Defensive frailties were exposed big style, poor marking all over the pitch cost them dearly and the inability of forwards to challenge for a ball put undue pressure on the midfield pairing and defenders. All fifty fifty tackles were won by a green and gold jersey not a green and white one. The two sets of green jerseys didn’t help ‘no excuse I know’ but I just cannot explain the minor’s performance on the night.

The overall handling skills and final passing of the ball was poor. The minors looked very nervous and it showed in their performance. They showed Foreglen too much respect, letting them play football. Any chances they did have they kicked them well wide or into the arms of the Foreglen goalkeeper.

A large number of players were found wanting on the night. The one man that did try ‘Cahir Mullan’ was dismissed from the field of play by Barry Cassidy with ten minutes remaining for a rash challenge (trying to stop a Foreglen forward scoring another goal). His efforts in and around the midfield to win possession was remarkable, his chasing back and tackling went unrewarded. Every ball he broke down was won by a Foreglen player; none of his team mates offered any support or posed a threat to Foreglen.

This was a game that is best forgotten unless you are a Foreglen supporter, in which case it was a fantastic result. It’s a pity the most awful performance of the season was kept for the championship final.

You can’t fault Foreglen on their conviction and desire to win, both from the players and the coaching staff. With two minutes remaining on the clock and twenty one points between the teams they were still driving forward in search of more scores.

The match …..

Within the first two minutes Foreglen went two points up. Both scores from the twenty-one yard line, one from play the other from a free kick conceded by Enda Butcher.

In the fifth minute Michael McGonigle had a chance to give St. Patrick’s the lead when he broke through on goal. He was crowded out by the Foreglen defence and his close range left footed shot was saved by the Foreglen goal keeper.

Over the next five minutes Foreglen scored another point from a free conceded by Daryl Mullan, increasing their lead to three points. Eoghan Ferris and Cahir Mullan were also booked in this period.

With fifteen minutes played and only three points on the board things looked good for St. Patrick’s even though they hadn’t started well. Then two minutes of madness happened. In the sixteenth and seventeenth minutes Foreglen found the net twice to increase their lead to nine points to nil.

It was at this point the flood gates opened and Foreglen scored another four unanswered points (all from play). Eunan O’Hara’s poor clearance out of defence to a Foreglen forward came straight back in and over the bar. Cahir Mullan’s gallant attempt to block yet another Foreglen goal scoring attempt resulted in them picking up the breaking ball and sending it over the bar. The next two points were both scored from thirty five yards out.

Going in at half time and failing to score St. Patrick’s trailed Foreglen thirteen points to nil (2-07 to 0-0). The second half started no better for St. Patrick’s. Straight from the throw-in Foreglen raced up the pitch and scored their third goal.

St. Patrick’s were awarded a penalty in the thirty third minute. Ciaran Ferris’s spot kick went straight down the middle, allowing the Foreglen goal keeper to push it over the bar with no effort, this registered St. Patrick’s first point of the match. Two additional Foreglen points increased their lead further to 0-01 to 3-09.

For the next twelve minutes St. Patrick’s contained Foreglen but couldn’t capitalise on their possession. With ten minutes remaining Foreglen mounted another attack on goal. As a last ditch attempt to stop them scoring a fourth goal Cahir Mullan pulled the attacking forward to the ground ‘rugby style’. As a result he received his 2nd yellow card and his marching orders. Foreglen converted the conceded free kick.

Cahir attempting to stop Foreglen scoring their fourth goal would prove to be in vain ………

Straight from the kick out they won possession in midfield and cutting through the fragile St. Patrick’s defence they scored a goal. This would prove to be the last score of the game. Conor O’Reilly’s wayward 21 yard free kick just summed up the whole experience for the St. Patrick’s players and supporters

With seven minutes remaining plus added time Foreglen knew they had won the match and started to make a number of substitutions, exposing their younger panel members to the experience of winning a Co Derry Minor Championship.

The St. Patrick’s team on display wasn’t the one that pushed St Canice’s Dungiven very close in the Carlin Duffy Cup Final. Belief and pure arrogance wins through every time. It was missing in the St. Patrick’s team on Tuesday night and it cost them dearly. They doubted themselves and their ability. They shouldn’t have. They are a good football team, made up of talented individuals with a bright future in the GAA.

It just wasn’t meant to be lads .........

Brush it under the carpet and never speak of it again :-)