Seán destroys poor Mitchels

17 April 2019

SOMETIMES in sport you see something unbelievable, something that leaves you open-mouthed and wondering, how?

Seán Tucker provided one of those performances on Friday night in Holywood when he scored an amazing 1-15 in St Paul’s win over Newry Mitchels.

Only three other St Paul’s players got on the scoresheet in what was a stunning performance.

St Paul’s, obviously sorting out last week’s early game issues, came out strongly with Tucker getting the opening three points of the game, two from play and one from a free.

Manager Paddy Hannigan had moved Tucker from his midfield position last week to full forward in this game, but I doubt even he foresaw what a great decision that would prove to be.

This match report will generally go in this vain, Tucker scores. Aside from Tucker, Dáire McGrattan and Gerard Walls won pretty much everything in midfield and provided the platform for Tucker to do his stuff.

The half back line of Ruairi Collins, Paddy Falls and Ben Gray was resolute and repelled the Mitchels nippy forwards.

And the back line of Owen Loughran, Connor McPeake and Jonny Parsons kept the score line lopsided in St Paul’s favour.

Gray, marauding from half back took the next score before Tucker again went on a rampage scoring the next four points.

The Mitchels defence had no answer to him, pushing him out onto his weaker foot proved fruitless and he scored with ease with either peg.

A great score from the hard-working Barry Kilkey and Tucker then added two more before Kilkey added his second. Tucker ended the half with the game’s only goal.

A long ball played into the unplayable St Paul’s forward was caught about 25m out from goal, he took the catch and turned the defender in one movement before haring towards goal.

He slid the ball along the ground and into the corner of the net leaving Mitchels ‘keeper Connor Hanna with no chance. Tucker ended the half having scored an unbelievable 1-8.

Mitchels came out much stronger in the second half. Patrick Magee was causing plenty of problems for St Paul’s with his speedy runs from half back and Shane Cooney and Danny Talbot began winning their share around midfield.

Mitchells scored the first two points of the second half, but the St Paul’s defence decided that was all they were going to get.

Tucker again was fed the ball and took the next three points with aplomb.

Substitute Chris Williams added more pace to the St Paul’s attack, much to the dismay of the Newry men and his forward run and passing interchange with Tucker tore them asunder before he calmly dispatched the ball over the bar. Tucker then added another before he again found himself one on one with Mitchels ‘keeper.

Tucker smashed the ball towards the net only for Hanna to pull off a wonderful save, pushing the ball over the bar. It was a top quality save which would have been roundly applauded at county Level.

Speaking of County level, Tucker — who else — rounded off the scoring with a free. The referee blew his whistle to round off a quite stunning performance from Tucker, one that will be long remembered around the Gold Coast, but will certainly raise a few eyebrows around the county.

St Paul’s: Craig McKenna, Owen Loughran, Conor McPeak, Jonny Parsons, Ben Gray (0-1), Paddy Falls, Ruairi Collins, Gerard Walls, Dáire McGrattan, Eoin Kelly, Barry Kilkey (0-2), Michael Collins, Martin Cox, Sean Tucker (1-15), Chris Shannon. Subs: Oliver Monaghan, Conleth Rooney, Rory Davidson, Chris Williams (0-1), Alan Nevin, Rodney Adams, Daniel Lynch.

Newry Mitchels: Conor Hanna, Patrick Heaney, Conor McCartan, Cillian McLogan, Patrick Magee, Eamon Pollock, Gerard Fitzpatrick, Shane Cooney, Danny Talbot, Eoin Flynn, Aaron Grant, Arnas Murphy, Lee McGivern, Chris Morgan, Ross Craney. Subs: Darren McGeeney, Michael Boyle, Caolan Maguire, Barry Quinn.

St Paul’s 1-19

Mitchels 0-2

ACFL DIVISION 4

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