Senior Men

Above: The victorious St Pats senior team which booked their place in this years S.F.C Final with a 2 point win over high flying Devenish.

SFC Semi Final, St Patrick's 1:10 Devenish 0:11

St Pats pulled of the shock of the championship by beating Devenish in the SFC Semi Final at Brewster Park. There was much written about this game especially some pundits putting their necks on the line as they were predicting Roslea and Devenish to meet in the final, well i hope they have learned a lesson from this one. Devenish started well with early scores and the most of these coming from John O'Flanagan while for St Pats Pat Cadden was at hand to keep for 2 points. Devenish did build and as St Pats looked nervy they capitalised with further scores from Flanagan and O'Brien at corner forward. Devenish led 5points to 2 and when Shane McDermott went for a long range effort he was surely surprised to find the ball rattle the back of the net as the Devenish keeper held his head in his hands to try and hide the embarrassment. This score was then further added with a point from Pat Cadden to put St Pats in the lead but Devenish were not to be undone by this as they pegged over the next 4 scores to lead 0:09 to 1:03 at half time.

The second saw a more determined and energetic St Pats as they started to try and close the Devenish lead but Flanagan and Chris O'Brien added points for Devenish to give them a 5point lead and with them on top of St Pats it looked like this one was over. However championship football has tendency of bringing the best out of players and St Pats sorted themselves adding scores from Fergal O'Reilly, Pat Cadden and Eamon Maguire to close the lead back to 2 points. Eamon Maguire then struck one over with his left boot to put 1 point in it and then Pat Grue scored the point of the game picking the ball up at midfield charging through to fire over from all of 50 metres and at this stage St pats had their tails up. Eamon Maguire was also at hand to Slot over the point to put St pats in the lead and Shane McDermott followed up later for the insurance point. Devenish were reduced to 14men after their full forward was sidelined with a straight red card for dangerous play. St pats held of the Devenish challenge to win by 2 points. For St pats as a unit they all played well with their best spell in the second half as they hassled and drove at Devenish. They now meet Roslea in the Final on 3rd of October.

Its not a coincidence that the last four teams in this years senior championship have 2 teams from Division 2 and this by no means, shows that Division 2 has strengthened as a division just merely the fact that the division has two run away leaders in Enniskillen Gaels and St Pat's. St Pats punished Ederney today in a revenge type fixture, the last time these teams played St Pats were without four county players and indeed lost two of their more senior players in the warm up prior to that game and this result would have not helped their ambition to stay in Division one in 2009. Beating Ederney was no shock as St Pats have been in fine form of late. St Pats started brightly in this encounter as Ederney struggled to handle them in the opening 15minutes. Fergal O'Reilly opened the St Pats scoring with a chance that probably should have been a goal but the point was welcome all the same. Ederney were doing a lot of fouling as to were St Pats and there were very few open chances in the first half as both teams relied heavily on frees to get them scores. The Ederney No:13 was sharp with accurate frees from tight angles and long distances. Pat Cadden was keeping the St Pats scoreboard ticking over as he was also on target, Shane McDermott, Paul McManus and Eamon Maguire also on target as St Pats led 0:06 to 0:05 at half time.

The second half was played in the rain and players were finding it difficult to stay upright. Ederney were doing their best to try and close the St Pats lead and that they did. Scores from Marty McGrath and Snow keeping this one close. Mid way through the second half St Pats gathered momentum points from Paul McManus, Pat Cadden, Eamon Maguire and Ruairi McGrade all increasing the St Pats lead as they went into a 6 point lead. Ederney were really struggling to handle the St pats midfield and had no answer to the attacking wing half back Paul McManus who was a menace for the full hour. Ederney did tag on scores late on but St Pats ran out winners with four points to spare. Paul Cosgrove was awarded the Quinn Insurance man of the match Paul McManus also deserved a similar ward, Eamon Maguire, Shane McDermott and Marty Collins also having fine displays. early indications show Devenish as their next opponents, updates will appear on this website so keep checking.

This weekend seen many unpredictable events unfold such as Down beating Kerry and Dublin beating Tyrone but no such upset would take place in Louis Leonard memorial park Donagh. A training session at best was the story of this game even from a St Pats point of view this was embarrassing as Aughadrumsee suffered a 30point defeat. St Pat's top marks men were Pat Cadden and Michael McGrade scoring with most opportunities, the usual suspects played to their standard and St Pats ran out convincing winners in the end. Its championship time now so fixtures in the league could be held up until the championship develops further. Updates will appear here on the website.

The St Pats senior team got back to winning ways with a home win over Brookeborough on Sunday. There was much speculation about this game whether or not it would go ahead but word was put round late Saturday evening that there would be a noon throw in and that the match would definitely be on. St Pat’s started very well with points from Eamon Maguire and Michael McGrade while Damian Moane was notching points over for the visitors who were struggling to keep up with a fitter St Pats side. Both sides had been without key players and they were missed as neither team really sparkled in the opening 20minutes. St Pats were making the better use of their chances and when Eamon Maguire scored what could be the goal of the season the writing was on the wall for Brookeborough, Maguire raced into the Brookeborough goal and unleashed a cracker into the roof of Emmett Laverys net. St Pat’s added further points from Maguire and Cadden and indeed Maguire could have had a second only to blast over the bar. St Pat’s led 1:07 to 0:04 at half time.

The second half continued in similar style to the first with St Pats grabbing the first score. Eamon Maguire who was doubled marked was causing havoc with his free running and linkup play. Brookeborough did create chances but having lost Melarkey early in the first half was not helping their causes at midfield as Jamie Treacy and Paul Cosgrove where commanding this area. St Pats made a few changes bringing on Shaun Montgomery, Jason Cadden, Ciaran Keenan and Patrick Quaile who also got a spell between the posts. St Pats were very much in command when Maguire grabbed his second of the day. This one was not as spectacular as the first but a good finish all the same. Brookeborough really missed their key players in Tommy McElroy, Ciaran boyle and Shane McGeehan and no doubt the return fixture will be a completely different game. St Pats ran out deserved winners in the end with the final score St Patrick’s 2:13 Brookeborough 0:07. For St Pats the twin towers at midfield were dominant, Eamon Maguire the pick of the forwards while Ronan McCaffery made a welcome return to the number 3 jersey and had a fine hour.

Enniskillen Gaels ended St Pats winning spree with a four point win at Brewster Park Enniskillen. Both sides started this game with the same number of points at the top the SFl2 league and who ever would win the game would put some daylight between the sides. Enniskillen started the brightest in the opening quarter with a number of points scored by Keenan and McCarron, Keenan getting the majority of his from play as St Pat's couldn’t get a hold of the game at all. Pat Cadden opens St Pat’s tally with a free kick on the left hand side and indeed St Pat's were putting in a more spirited performance as they started to close the Gaels lead which was 4 points to 2 after Cadden dispatched his second free kick. Enniskillen again pressed as McCluskey was getting a lot of ball around midfield and was linking very well with McCabe at full forward and also with Mathew Keenan at centre half forward, however the away side then added further scores again from frees via Pat Cadden and Eamon Maguire. Cadden ended the first half as St Pat’s top scorer, the sides went in at the interval level with the Score Enniskillen Gaels 0:08 St Patrick’s 0:08

The second half began with the Gaels again adding points from Keenan and McCarron who was showing himself as a handful at midfield with his long runs and link up play with the Gaels defence. St Pats were doing their best to try and keep the gap at the minimum and the sides were level within ten minutes of the restart, Eamon Maguire and Pat Cadden the scorers for St Pat’s. Mid way through the second half the gaels started to put further scores together again McCarron and Keenan on target for the home side, at this stage Enniskillen led by two points and added to this as St Pats started to panic and concede silly frees which Keenan dispatched. The Gaels took a 4 point lead with about 10 minutes remaining. Shane McDermott was moved to midfield for the last ten but this was a case of too little too late. Enniskillen were always on top as St Pat’s day got worse as they were reduced to 14 men with seconds remaining on the clock, the unfortunate player was Pat Cadden, it was unsure the reason for his sending off but that would be the last action as the game ended with the Final Score Enniskillen Gaels 0:17 St Patrick’s 0:13. For St Pats, Pat Grue had a steady hour, Paul Cosgrove battled well at midfield. Overall a disappointing result for St Pat's on a day that maybe the more senior players failed to be counted.

St Pat's recorded another high scoring victory over a helpless Coa side on Sunday afternoon. St Pat's raced into an early 4 point lead until Jason Farry opened Coa’s account with a long range effort. Eamon Maguire with Eugene Cadden were menaces in the forward line while at midfield Paul Cosgrove was winning most of what came his way. Coa were rattled in the opening 15mins and it was mid way through the second half before they would have their own spell of possession and in this spell win a penalty which they dispatched calmly to close the gap. This wouldn’t be any major sting the St Pat’s tail as Michael McGrade, Eugene and Pat Cadden and Eamon Maguire all added further scores for St Pat’s.

The second half was played in a more combative nature as Coa were losing their discipline all over the field and indeed if not for the referee 2 or 3 players could have seen red cards and that included St Pat’s, however this referee doesn’t carry any red cards so players would avoid the walk of shame. St Pats were awarded a penalty of their own when Eamon Maguire was taken down as he raced in on goal, Pat Cadden dispatched the penalty and added a flurry of points after this. Coa very much beaten at this stage as the gap was just too much for them to try and get anything out of this one, St Pats made a few changes with Conor O’Neill playing all of 5 minutes and managed to score a goal in this short space of time. St Pat’s will be glad to keep on winning ways while Coa could probably have benefited from a 3^rd Division if the Clubs in the county would wake up and support motions. For St Pats Eugene Cadden was very effective as was Eamon Maguire and Pat Cadden, Ryan Daly and Shane McDermott both put in solid performances and Joe McGovern also showing some of his old form. Final Score Coa 1:07 St Patrick’s 2:18

On the day that marks 126 Years of the GAA St Patrick’s hosted Derrylin which have had an off and on start to their own league campaign. With St Pats having 3 wins on the trot the eager St Pats supporter would have suggested this one to be a relatively easy tie but they would have been very wrong. Everything that Derrylin touched ended up as a score or a free and they were having one of those days were they could do nothing wrong. Derrylin were first to score as they played against the wind in the first half shooting into the clubhouse end. Cahir Shannon and Mark Lunney both on target early on with Donal McAvviney also adding to the score line. St Pats were making a lot of very simple mistakes losing possession very easily and had to work very hard for their own scores which came through Fergal O’Reilly, Michael McGrade, Gary Maguire and Eamon Maguire. St Pats had not been their usual dominance at midfield due to Paul Cosgrove being ruled out by injury prior to the start of the game. The sides went in at half time level 7 points each.

The second half produced a much more energised St Patrick’s side as I am sure Treanor and Wray gave the men a top dressing at the break. Eamon Maguire was on target just after the restart and added a further score minutes later. Fergal O’Reilly was playing a more free role around midfield and was being every effective linking up with Pat Cadden and Eugene Cadden, Shane McDermott was also drafted into midfield were he won more possession. Derrylin were not by any means finished as St Pats could only muster a 1 or 2 point lead early in the second half. Donal McAvinney and Cahir Shannon added further scores to keep the deficit to the minimum. St Pat’s then started to up the tempo and added scores with Eugene Cadden, Pat Cadden and Gary Maguire, a few minutes later the ball struck the upright of the Derrylin goal post and Eugene Cadden was on hand to slot the ball past the Derrylin keeper. St Pats added further points but again Derrylin fought back with points from Paul Lunney and Donal McAvinney. St Pats were 3 points up when they grabbed their second goal this time through Michael McGrade who calmly slotted his low shot beyond the outstretched Keeper. St Pats however fell asleep after this as they let Derrylin crawl the lead back and this was done by McAvinney who was allowed to carry the ball into the St Pats penalty area to slot past McMahon and bring the deficit back to 3 points, Derrylin then added a further score which was also from McAvinney but there would be no comeback as St Pat’s held of to win with 2 points to spare. This was by no means a walk in the park and maybe St Pats can learn from this for future games in this division. For St Pats Fergal O’Reilly had a solid game getting a few scores, Eugene Cadden and Eamon Maguire the pick of the forwards while Ronan McCaffery and Oisin Boyle also featured well in the defence.

On a breezy afternoon in Aughadrumsee the third round of the SFL Division 2 took place, Aughadrumsee chasing their first win of the year while St Pats were trying to do three in a row for the first time in many years. As reported in my match preview on Friday this game never lives up to a typical derby game and I was right. Aughadrumsee started brightly in the opening 5minutes and after that shut up shop as St Pats dominated this one for 90% of the game. It took some 6minutes before the first score came and both sides had traded a few wides prior to this but it was St Pats who got the scoreboard ticking over. Eamon Maguire, Pat Cadden and Gary Maguire were all on target in the first quarter as St Pats were always in control of this one and lead by 8 points at half time. Aughadrumsee struggled to get any possession at midfield as the twin towers of Treacy and Cosgrove were winning all the high ball. The busiest man on the pitch was the Aughadrumsee goal keeper as he had a continuous job in keeping the ball kicked out. Half Time score Aughadrumsee 0:03 St Patrick’s 2:15

The second half was a better half for the home team as they managed a few more scores and some decent spells of play. St Pats however started the better in the opening quarter of the second half as Eugene Cadden smashed the ball into the keepers top right hand corner and stretch the St Pats lead, Pat Cadden soon followed up with the second goal of the game as Aughadrumsee looked down and out. St Pat’s made a few changes taking off Ciaran McMahon, Eamon Maguire, Paul Cosgrove and Ryan Daly who went off injured. The removal of these key players suddenly rejuvenated the home side as they managed scores from Bannon and indeed when St Pats failed to cope with a high ball in the small rectangle Aughadrumsee snatched a goal of their own. This wasn’t to be the start of a historic comeback, in fact this is as good as it got, St Pat’s squandered 2 or 3 goal chances of their own but all in all a good win in a game that never really got anyone sitting on the edge of their seat. For St Pats Shane McDermott was a solid figure, the twin towers were their usual reliant selves and Eamon Maguire, Pat & Eugene Cadden were hard to handle in the St Pats forward line. Another debutant today as Cahir McElroy made his first senior appearance for St Pats. Final Score Aughadrumsee 1:09 St Patrick’s 2:15