Mahoney and O’Hare secure spoils for Saul with late scores

Mahoney and O’Hare secure spoils for Saul with late scores

7 June 2023

ON a sun-drenched Páirc Esler, Saul looked to consolidate their bounce back, but faced a Newry Shamrocks team who have found their winning ways in the last two games after six straight defeats at the start of the season.

Saul got the first point of the game when Ruari O’Hare called his mark and confidentiality took his point. Shamrocks were quick to respond when a close free was comfortably taken by Aodhan Gorman.

Saul found their way with three points in five minutes. Philip Doran got two of them, both from play, and Jack Fitzsimons added the other with a long range kick.

The game looked to change tempo again when Saul’s John Mahoney found a gap in the Shamrocks backline and got his first of two goals of the game in the ninth minute.

Cathal Kinsella added Saul’s next point in the eleven minute and Shamrocks were struggling for structure.

Cathal Gorman was in fine scoring form with three points of his own across seven minutes, two of them from frees.

Into the 21st minute and again good possession by Saul paid off when Rory Mullen scored a point from an awkward angle.

Cathal Gorman was keeping Shamrocks in the game as he converted a close free.

Saul looked to have two more chances for goals. John Mahoney was one-on-one with James Price, but shot straight at the goalkeeper and Shamrocks cleared the danger.

Two minutes later James Johnston rose to grab a pass in from Mullen, but couldn’t fully get to it.

With only three minutes remaining of the half, David Bothwell pulled a point back for the Shamrocks, but this was quickly cancelled out by Doran who took his point from a 45.

From the kick-out Tiernan Saul found the back of the net for Shamrocks and it was now a two-point game.

Saul quickly took the kick out.

Doran ran up the left side and found Mahoney, who again found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and this time he was not for missing.

Half time and Saul led 2-8 to 1-6.

Shamrocks were the first to show their intentions in the second half when Tiernan Saul scored a point.

Saul responded immediately with a point from James Johnston before Aodhan Gorman scored a Shamrocks point from a free.

A third Saul goal looked like coming in the 36rh minute, when Doran ran straight at the goalkeeper, but decided to take a point.

Shamrocks looked to be struggling to box Doran in and again he was allowed the free space and gets his fifth point of the game.

Cathal Gorman and John McAteer added a point apiece for the home side. It was now the 45th minute and the game began to open up.

A poor pass by Saul was intercepted by Niall Lennon, who scored Shamrocks’ second goal of the game. 

A point by Ciaran Harney was cancelled out by Lennon and another point by Gorman levelled the game.

With four minutes on the clock, Mahoney put Saul back in front.

The referee indicated three additional minutes, but  close range free from Ruari O’Hare ensured victory for Saul.

Saul had to work hard and they deserved their win.

Newry Shamrocks: James Price, Rioghan Lougran, Niall Rafferty, David Bothwell, James Dickson, Niall Lennon, Donal Baxenden, Eoin Hughes, Jack Mallon, Oisin Lynch, Cathal Gorman, Callum Billham, Aodhan Gorman, John McAteer, Tiernan Saul.

Saul: Jack Hazard, Callum Fitzsimons, Cormac Byrne, Jack Fitzsimons, Rory Mullen, Cillian Roberts, Matthew Murray, Philip Doran, Justin Magilton, Cathal Kinsella, Ruari O’Hare, James Johnston, James Mahoney, John Mahoney, Callum Mahoney.