GAA | U18 peninsula derby ends in a draw

Louth U18 League | Cooley/Cuchulainn Gaels 1–12 St Patrick’s 2–9

St Patrick’s minors played out a thrilling draw against the combination side of Cooley and Cuchulainn Gaels minors last week.

The Lordship side opened the scoring with two points from Jack Murphy inside the opening five minutes and after a slow start, Cooley/Cuchulainn Gaels grabbed their first score in the eighth minute of play.

Stephen Gartland and Gavin Gregory added to the Pat’s tally but the combination side responded with two quick points to leave just one between the sides after 15 minutes.

The Cooley/Gaels team started to build momentum and Evan Cronin made a great save to deny them a certain goal after 23 minutes but could do nothing to stop a point that brought the sides level a minute later.

With time almost up in the first half, St Patrick’s won a penalty which Gavin Gregory converted but Cooley/Gaels replied with a point deep in injury time to leave Pat’s leading 1–4 to 0–5 at the break.

The combination side opened the scoring in the second half and were winning a lot of the ball in the middle of the field but the Pat’s defence had a brilliant game with Barry Dunne, Padraig Duffy and Ryan Murphy making great defensive tackles throughout.

Both sides were reduced to 14 men after a flare up between both sets of players and it was Pat’s who hit three scores without reply to momentarily take charge but the Cooley/Gaels side responded again to draw the game level.

Pat’s were reduced to 13 when the unlucky Ryan Duffy was sent off for a second booking and the amalgamated outfit began to gain momentum with a brilliant goal line clearance from Barry Dunne denying them a goal. They did, however, convert the resulting 45.

The home side did eventually break through the Pat’s defence with a goal to put them ahead for the first time in the match and they added a further point from a free in the 26th minute of the second half to open up a four point lead.

Both sides traded scores and with time up the combination side looked like they had secured the win but St Patrick’s never gave in and a fine point from Gavin Gregory left just a goal between the sides.

Leonard Grey then made a great break through the middle of the field and fired the ball into the back of the net to bring the sides level two minutes into injury time.

There was still time to play and the Cooley/Gaels side won the resulting kick out but the Pat’s defensive line once again stood firm to deservedly take a share of the spoils home.

ST PATRICK’S: Evan Cronin; Barry Dunne, Padraig Duffy, Richard Duffy; Eoghan O’Connor, Ryan Murphy, Ryan Duffy; Dylan McCarthy, Leonard Grey (1–1); Matthew Pagni, Gavin Gregory (1–4), Jack Murphy (0–3); Tadhg O’Connor (0–1), Stephen Gartland, Joseph Connor. Subs: Aaron Mills, Paudie Ryan.