Tom fires St Patrick’s

Tom fires St Patrick’s

7 December 2016

THERE was early Christmas cheer for St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, when they won a high scoring Danske Bank McGreevy Cup final at Hilltown last week.

Red High captain Tom McGrattan led by example and fired in three goals, as well as sending over a point.

However, it wasn’t until James Duggan popped over two frees for St Colman’s to take the lead in the 35th minute that the Red High boys were stung into action.

Inside the next seven minutes a goal and a point from McGrattan and three points from midfielder Oisin Coulter put them into a 4-8 to 4-2 lead.

Although Daniel Cunningham finished off a great run from Patrick Cowan with a goal for St Colman’s in the 47th minute, the Red High now had the bit between their teeth.

They finished strongly with a quick goal in reply from Fearghal MacManus and another from McGrattan in the 56th minute to seal their first win at this level in five seasons.

McGrattan, with his 3-1 total, was one of the Downpatrick school’s stars, but he was well supported by the half-back line of Blaine Ward, Ryan O’Neill and Rory Coulter, and further afield Oisin Coulter and Michael Dorrian.

However, cup holders St Colman’s gave them a real battle, despite the gap that opened in the final quarter.

Oisin Coulter opened the goal fest with a third minute strike, but goals from Paddy Cowan and Dara 

Rodgers had St Colman’s back in the game at 1-4 to 2-0 after 18 minutes.

Michael Dorrian scored a second Downpatrick goal, but Daniel Cunningham and Rodgers edged St Colman’s ahead before Tom McGrattan found the back of the net just before the break for Downpatrick to lead 3-4 to 4-0.

Duggan’s two frees edged St Colman’s ahead on the restart, but it only served to fire up the Downpatrick attack and they pushed through to collect the cup.

St Patrick’s: C Kinsella, R McGrath, M Churchman, O McGrattan, B Ward, R O’Neill (0-2 frees), R Coulter, F Turpin, O Coulter (1-5, 0-3 frees), A Rogan, T McGrattan (3-1), M Dorrian (1-1), C Lenihan, F MacManus (1-0), T Connolly (0-1). Sub: D Keating for A Rogan (28).

St Colman’s: F Brady, F Kieran, C Madden, C King, P óg McAvoy, J Duggan (0-2 frees), M Duffy, D Rodgers (2-0), P Cowan (1-0), M Boyd, E Murtagh, C Magee, D Cunningham (2-0), M Rice, J Breen. Subs: O Ruane for E Murtagh (24), C O’Hare for M Boyd (49), N Elshaw for P óg McAvoy (53).

Referee : P Brannigan (Clonduff).