St Louis v St. Michael's Enniskillen
St. Louis Teamwork Fends Off Fermanagh Challenge
St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel 0-09
St. Michael’s Grammar School,
Enniskillen - 0-07
After setting the Ulster Colleges world alight last year with their fantastic journey to the MacRory Cup final, it was questionable if St. Louis had the resources to compete in this elite competition again. With the departure of coach, Cathal Murray to the ranks of St. Colman’s College, Newry along with some impressive playing talent, the presence of St. Louis at MacRory level would surely be over. As an array of talent, including, Joseph Ireland, James Colgan, Eamon McConville, Luke Howard, and Ritchie Annett, having all moved on to the football pastures of University football, how could the limited resources in the Mourne school cope?
Well, this question was answered in true St. Louis style, on Saturday when the current crop of footballers ran out onto the Mullaghbrack pitch to face the challenge of former champions St. Michael’s Grammar School, Enniskillen, coached by former Fermanagh and current Sligo Manager, Dominic Corrigan. If there was any doubt about the quality within the St. Louis ranks, the team-sheet boasted six players who had played in the All-Ireland Minor Final with the successful Down Minor team in September. Martin Clarke, Hugh Magee, Gerard McCartan, Peter Fitzpatrick, ‘Keeper Gavin Joyce and Fergal Doyle, could bring all their Croke Park experience to this competition, and ensure that the challenge would be serious enough for others to sit up and take notice.
Although Hugh Magee, Peter Fitzpatrick and Gerard McCartan all went into
this game carrying injuries, Coach Steven McVeigh and new arrival Niall McAleenan,
threw caution to the wind and fielded a strong team. Playing against a strong
breeze, the Kilkeel boys went at their opponents right from the start. With
the energetic Martin Clarke troubling the Fermanagh defence, St. Michael’s
focused their attention closely on the colleges all-star. However, this allowed
more room for manoeuvre for Christopher Morgan, Luke Toner and the exciting
young talent of Christopher Killen.
Gerard McCartan opened the Kilkeel account with a fine point after making
a great run from the mid-field. However, the signs were there to be seen
that McCartan may not last the game as his injury looked evident. Luke Toner
followed this up with a point from a free, but Enniskillen where now beginning
to test the Mourne defence, mounting some serious offences. However, the
full back line of Ryan Sloan, Hugh Magee and Luke Byrne, looked very comfortable.
Indeed it took two pointed frees from the Fermanagh lads to level the game. At the other end of the pitch, the St. Louis attack, were guilty of squandering opportunities to open up a lead. Scoring chances went begging as Martin Clarke and Christopher Morgan hat shots narrowly wide, whilst Peter Fitzpatrick watch a fierce low drive flash wide past the St. Michael’s goalkeepers outstretched arm. The Fermanagh defence were kept busy as Christopher Killen, Liam Harper and Luke Toner came more into the game, but they defended with good confidence.
St. Michael’s resilience showed through as they took the lead after 15 minutes, with two further frees. The Kilkeel mid-field was looking stretched until the presence of full-forward Kevin Quinn came into play as good support for the Down Minor pair. The half back line of Andrew Sloan, John Fitzpatrick and Fergal Doyle were kept busy, as St. Michael’s stretched their lead. In attack, St. Louis had the opportunities to narrow the gap, but the wind was causing problems for the Kilkeel forwards, especially Martin Clarke, as he missed three potential points, two from frees. St. Michael’s were probably ruing their misses, especially as they had a considerable wind advantage. However, as the first half drew to a close, it was evident that this St. Louis were well drilled with an excellent degree of work rate, so going in three points down didn’t concern Steven McVeigh or Niall McAleenan too much. Half-time score St. Louis 0-2, St. Michael’s 0-5.
The half-time discussion surely focussed around the scoring aspect of the St. Louis play, but the injury to Gerard McCartan would surely bring about a change sooner rather than later. St. Louis introduced the towering Patrick Bourke for Liam Harper as St. Louis set about their opponents with renewed vigour. St. Michael’s extended their lead with the opening point of the second half, but a point from a free by Martin Clarke set about the St. Louis comeback. With efforts from Clarke and Christopher Morgan narrowly missing their target, the St. Louis team looked as if it would only be a matter of time before they would square things up. Gavin Joyce was rarely troubled in the Mourne goals and the efforts of John Fitzpatrick, Fergal Doyle and Ryan Sloan and Luke Byrne, ably controlling St. Michael’s main attacker, the Enniskillen threat was kept down to a minimal.
However, points were becoming difficult to come by, but the efforts of Luke Toner and Christopher Killen, especially their tackling were troubling the Fermanagh efforts. Three points from Martin Clarke (2 from frees) levelled the game again, but it was the Fermanagh boys who were certainly feeling the pace. Against the run of play, St. Michael’s regained the lead with fifteen minutes on the clock. St. Louis were playing a more creative style of football, epitomised by a fantastic goal opportunity which resulted in a low Martin Clarke effort grazing the Fermanagh post. However, a opportunistic snap shot from Luke Tone drew the Kilkeel boys level.
St. Louis introduced Gary Trainor into the attack, replacing the injured
Gerard McCartan, with Clarke retreating to midfield. Gary Trainor soon made
his presence felt as his whipped over a fantastic point from near the sideline
to give St. Louis the lead going into the final ten minutes. With Attical
pair Kevin Quinn and Andrew Sloan making powerful breaks out of defence,
St. Louis looked the more likely to win this game. However, it was another
Attical player, Christopher Morgan who extended the Kilkeel lead with a high,
looping shot which sailed convincingly over the bar.
Although the scores were not coming that easy, the Kilkeel lads looked comfortable
in most areas of the field and surely should have finished this game further
ahead, but the Kilkeel school were surely satisfied with the win, irrespective
of the size of the winning margin.
With two points on the table to boost their confidence, St. Louis now face
a more daunting challenge this Saturday as the face ‘old foes’ and
current holders, Omagh CBS, in a repeat of last years epic MacRory Cup final,
which went in favour of the Tyrone school, only after a replay. The Tyrone
school are red hot favourites to retain their title this year, so this game
provide the Mourne school with a more realistic measure of this years competition
St. Louis squad
Gavin Joyce (Ballymartin), Ryan Sloan (Atticall), Hugh Magee (Longstone), Luke Byrne (Bryansford), Fergal Doyle (An Riocht), John Fitzpatrick (Ballymartin), Andrew Sloan (Atticall), Gerard McCartan (Rostrevor) 0-1, Peter Fitzpatrick (Ballymartin), Christopher Morgan (Atticall) 0-2, Martin Clarke (An Riocht) Capt 0-3, Liam Harper (An Riocht), Christopher Killen (An Riocht), Kevin Quinn (Atticall), Luke Toner (Castlewellan) 0-2.
Subs; Colm Curran (Bryansford), Gary Trainor (Longstone) 0-1, Stephen Rafferty (Bryansford), Shaun Trainor (Longstone), Patrick Bourke (Rostrevor), Conor Fitzpatrick (Ballymartin), Liam O’Hare (Ballymartin), Stephen Cousins (Bryansford), Dominic Trainor (Atticall).