Red hot Red High

Red hot Red High

13 November 2013

ON a crisp autumn evening in the impressive setting that is the Arena, the Queen’s University Sports Complex, the spirited hurlers of St. Patrick’s Grammar School added to their ever increasing reputation by successfully defending the Danske Bank Casement Cup against all the odds.

Their opponents, La Salle, Belfast, having successfully negotiated the tougher side of the draw, were firm favourites.

Few gave the holders much of a chance in light of the fact that their team of 2013 bore little resemblance to the side which outclassed a good Rathmore team in 2012, running out comfortable 2-17 to 0-10 winners.

However, what this team lacks in height, weight and physical stature is more than compensated for by their determination and never-give-up attitude. In the end they were deserving winners, despite the late fightback from La Salle.

Having narrowly beaten St. Mary’s, Magherafelt by 5-9 to 2-17 in their semi-final, the Red High lads were once again the underdogs as La Salle had enjoyed a much more comfortable semi-final victory at the same venue an hour earlier.

The papers said it was a foregone conclusion and La Salle were big favourites to dethrone the champions.

The west Belfast team certainly had a lot of talent and the ability to end the contest early with some terrific players capable of finding the net.

The early stages were tense as both teams got used to playing under the lights and the damp, greasy surface and in the first quarter there was little to separate the sides.

La Salle notched up two early points before a brace of Oisin MacManus frees levelled the scores. La Salle continued to threaten the Red High goal, but got little or no change out of the Red High defence.

Carville, Fay, Smyth, Fisher and Gilmore, led by their captain Brook Byers, defended as if their lives depended on it.

The favourites had to settle with long range efforts to maintain their slender lead. Eoin King, drafted into the starting 15 after injury, battled hard and competed for every ball against a strong La Salle midfield.

As the first half progressed, the Downpatrick forwards began to enjoy more possession and despite failing to register enough scores, remained in contention with a great effort from Byers from way out on the left wing.

This was followed by the first big turning point of the game — a goal from the energetic midfielder Emmett O’Neill who had been working his socks off to manage the threat of Nugent, the talented La Salle centre-half back.

O’Neill showed wonderful awareness and great reaction speed to drive home a loose ball and give the Red High their first lead in the game.

La Salle registered another score before another MacManus free restored the lead back to two points.

La Salle went marching up the field looking for a score before the whistle, but when the play broke down it was Sean Hardy who produced the best score of the game — a sublime swerving point from just inside the opposition half to ensure that the Red high were a goal to the good at the interval. Half-time score: St Patrick’s 1-5, La Salle 0-5.

In the dressing room at half-time coach Darren Swail warned against complacency, highlighting that La Salle would come strong at the beginning of the second half. The favourites were not going to let the Casement Cup return to Co. Down without a fight.

While this proved to be the case it was the Red High players who took their chances better, enjoying a golden spell at the beginning of the second period of play. The lead was extended by a long range Cormac Coulter free, the Ballygalget man enjoying his switch of position into the half-back line after the semi-final win.

MacManus fired over another point, before two quick goals all but finished off La Salle. Sands, who had been closely watched by the La Salle defence, found a bit of space for the first time on the night and sent the ball to the corner of the net with typical aplomb.

La Salle responded with a goal at the other end, but their comeback hopes were dealt a severe blow when Sands again found space and despite the close attention of the defence managed to slip a pass to the onrushing Hardy, who crashed the ball home for his side’s third and decisive goal.

The loyal band of Red High supporters responded to the goal with the now customary ‘Posman’. Byers ended the scoring for Downpatrick, but to their credit La Salle never stopped trying to claw themselves into the game.

A late onslaught saw keeper Conan Hynds forced into a number of impressive saves, including two point-blank tip-overs that would have changed the outcome. He was ably supported by his defence and, in particular, PJ Davidson, the Liatroim man sweeping up a lot of loose breaking ball and driving the ball deep in to the La Salle half to avert the danger.

The introduction of Daniel Kelly, Jamie Doran and Paul McManus late in the game added fresh impetus to the team and all played their part in securing a memorable win against the odds.

Byers was deservedly awarded the man of the match award, though he had plenty of challengers for the accolade as every man stood tall to the task they were given and produced one of the finest team displays the school has witnessed in many years.

The travelling Red Army, festooned with banners and drums certainly had much to cheer about at the final whistle.

The focus now turns to the McGreevy Cup team who face St. Patrick’s, Keady, in the final on Friday. Both finalists won tight semi-finals and there will be little to choose between them.

St. Patrick’s: Conan Hynds, Jake Carville, Conall Fay, Niall Smyth, Marc Fisher, Brook Byers, Niall Gilmore, PJ Davidson, Emmett O’Neill, Oisin MacManus, Sean Hardy, Cormac Coulter, Ryan Watson, Daithi Sands, Eoin King. Substitutes: Daniel Kelly, Jamie Doran, James McAleenan, Daniel McCartan, Louis McMullan, Declan Merron, Conor O’Reilly, Paul McManus, Peter Hamilton.

St. Patrick’s Downpatrick 3-9

La Salle, Belfast 1-12

DANSKE BANK CASEMENT CUP FINAL