St Patrick’s Cup Finals
Sunday June 5th, 2005

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Sacred Heart / Riordan Take High School Honours
High School Final
Sacred Heart / Riordan 2-14 Peninsula 0-12

High winds were a concern for everyone in all of the finals at Kezar Stadium on Sunday, and the youth teams were no exception. A very strong Sacred Heart side started well and inched two points into the lead against the wind in the first half only for Peninsula to quickly reverse it. SH held the majority of the possession and were firing most of the shots, but the elements were against them and many opportunities were spurned with the ball drifting wide, and potential goals being sent over the bar from point blank range on at least two occasions. Peninsula managed to go to half time with a three point lead at 0-9 to 06.

The second half was when Sacred Heart really kicked into high gear. There were a lot of ‘hit and hope’ high balls being launched into the forwards, a tactic that did not always pay off, although Peninsula did struggle to win the breaking ball for most of the game. Peninsula certainly made better use of the opportunities they were creating and were far more accurate in their shooting, but the sheer number of shots being taken by their rivals in green was enough to close the deal for them.

Despite the large number of frees and stoppages, it was one of the most enjoyable games of the day. The high quality of play that we have now come to expect, and the sportsmanship of both teams, was a great example to the adult players and spectators in the stand.

Naomh Padraig’s Improvements not Enough
Hurling Final
Na Fianna 3-12 Naomh Padraig 3-10

A much stronger Naomh Padraig side took to the field for the St Patrick’s Cup Final in a very impressive game of hurling that was a huge improvement on the opening match of the year. It did help that the playing surface of this terrific facility was on a par with the best groomed gaelic grounds in Ireland, a perfect environment for the small ball game where a little bit of predictability in the ball behaviour on the ground can make a huge difference to the standard of play.

It was a tightly-contested first half in which Naomh Padraig had the tailwind and took their points (most of them courtesy of Eddie Brady) with confidence, but Na Fianna were able to reply to each one and cobble together bits of play that resulted in retaliatory points of their own thanks to Aidan O’Sullivan and Tom Carroll. It was a five minute period containing four Na Fianna scores in a row, including a blistering Na Fianna goal from Alan Brett, that changed the complexion of Naomh Padraig and stunned them into a three point deficit. This led to a half-time lead for Na Fianna at 1-6 to 0-6.

A confident, but by no means complacent, Na Fianna tried to take charge in the second half, but Naomh Padraig were down but not out. The free-taking prowess of Cathal Hennessey ensured a steady supply of points that kept some semblance of a winning margin within sight of the black and amber team who suddenly found themselves going down to twelve men after a sending-off incident. Padraig’s Shane Connolly’s goal from a free followed shortly by another whipped from the ground took the game from a one-point margin to a four point lead for Naomh Padraig that didn’t go away until the last ten minutes. Two more Na Fianna goals from Alan Brett and Brian O’Kane brought composure back to their team, but the tightness of the lead kept everyone on their toes on both sides, players and spectators alike, right up to the final whistle.

Superb Saoirse Secure the Silverware
Saoirse 2-17 Fog City Harps 3-6