In-form CBS sink battling Red High
Roscommon CBS 1-12
St Patrick’s GS, Downpatrick 1-6
PADDY DRUMMOND CUP
ST Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick’s All-Ireland Schools Senior ‘B’ Football Championship journey came to an end at UCD last Wednesday evening.
Despite an encouraging start to the contest in south Dublin, the Ulster champions were reined in by the determined challenge of Roscommon CBS.
Ruairi O’Hare flew the flag throughout for the Mourne outfit, but they ultimately fell short in their quest for the Paddy Drummond Cup.
However, it was a magnificent display by the Red High lads, who were roared on by a large travelling contingent.
A spot in the competition’s forthcoming showpiece alongside Munster kingpins Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra — conquerors of Ashbourne Community College on the opposite side of the draw — was up for grabs on the night and it was the Red High who hit the ground running.
The dependable O’Hare stepped forward from midfield to negotiate a difficult second minute free from 30 metres, breaking the deadlock in consummate fashion before adding a brace of scores to maintain their whirlwind opening to the proceedings.
It was all going according to plan, until they were hit with a sucker punch on eight minutes.
A quick transition out of defence by the deep-lying Tim Lambe forced the Downpatrick side on the back foot.
An intricate attacking move followed for Roscommon, with inside forward Jack McGahon eventually receiving the ball close to the target.
When his initial flicked effort was turned away by Downpatrick custodian Eoin Maginn, he fired home the ensuing rebound.
Having largely controlled the play up to this point, St Patrick’s suddenly found themselves under the cosh.
As the action developed, they became quite wasteful in possession, which in turn allowed CBS to establish a foothold.
Either side of Jack Lohan’s superb long-distance score, centre-forward Ciaran Lawless conjured a brace of placed-ball strikes to give CBS a three-point cushion.
Marauding wing back Cian Murray was almost through for another goal on 23 minutes, but this latest Roscommon surge ultimately produced a point for towering midfielder Keith Doyle. Liam Ormsby also slotted over a close range free on the right-hand side to bolster the CBS tally.
The wides continued to stack up for the Red High — they had five in total over the course of the first half, but they gained some form of solace just shy of the interval when corner forward Tim Prenter cut inside his marker and raised a white flag via the woodwork.
Although he was unfortunate not to grab a major, Pat’s were just four minutes adrift — 1-5 to 0-4 — at half time.
They conceded a point to Richard Walsh in the 33rd minute, but looked set to dramatically reduce their deficit at the end of a subsequent attack.
Ruairi Quinn unleashed a fierce strike on goal, but was denied by an outstanding block from CBS full-back Colin Walsh.
In spite of their best endeavours, it was CBS who possessed the ruthless streak in attack.
Supplementing James Fitzpatrick’s superb curled point, the influential Lawless made light of a long delay to register another free.
Just when St Patrick’s looked set for an inevitable defeat, they were given a lifeline inside the final quarter when the decision was made to move O’Hare to the edge of the square.
This paid dividends on 48 minutes when he rattled the CBS net with an unstoppable shot. Unfortunately, a dramatic fightback never quite materialised in the closing minutes.
Roscommon substitute Charlie Carthy made an immediate impact with a well-worked point and grabbed his second after Murray had added his name to the scoresheet.
Whilst O’Hare increased his final haul to 1-5, Lawless had effectively sealed CBS’ progression with his fourth point of the tie.
St Patrick’s GS, Downpatrick: E Maginn; T Carson, E Rooney, J Harbinson; N Laverty, R Murphy, P McMullan; T Smyth, R O’Hare (1-5, 0-5 frees); C Watson, B Boyd, O Cunningham; R Conor, R Quinn, T Prenter (0-1). Subs: C Murray for Cunningham (41), D Donaldson for Quinn (46), T Savage for Watson (56).
Roscommon CBS: G Rodrigues; J Lohan (0-1), C Walsh, J Martin, C Glennon, J Browne, C Murray (0-1); A Looby, K Doyle (0-1); R Walsh (0-1), C Lawless (0-4, frees), T Lambe; L Ormsby (0-1, free), J Fitzpatrick (0-1), J McGahon (1-0). Subs: C Carthy (0-4) for Ormsby (44), O Walsh for Lambe (62).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Louth).
Roscommon CBS 1-12
St Patrick’s GS, Downpatrick 1-6
PADDY DRUMMOND CUP