STEPHEN’S DAY ENGS IN SHARE OF SPOILS
McDermott’s stoppage-time penalty earns St Pat’s Donabate draw in riveting clash with Naomh Barrog
MINOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
NAOMH BARROG 1-9
ST PAT’S, DONABATE 2-6
Daire Walsh
STEPHEN MCDERMOTT struck a stoppage-time penalty at St Fintan’s HS, Sutton on Sunday to give St Pat’s, Donabate a share of the spoils in their Dublin Minor Football League Division Two clash with Naomh Barrog.
Having overcome a difficult start to the contest, Barrog looked set to hold out for a precious win after they developed a three-point cushion with just four minutes of normal time remaining. However, Pat’s refused to give up the ghost and McDermott’s composed finish ensured they returned to Robbie Farrell Park with something to show for their efforts.
Whereas Barrog had also finished level in their opening round encounter against Naomh Mearnog in Portmarnock, Pat’s enjoyed a 2-15 to 1-9 success on home soil at the expense of Erin’s Isle. They carried this impressive form into the early moments of their second competitive game of 2019.
Via excellent approach play by Fionan Turner, Oliver Brooks rattled the back of the Barrog net with a firm second-minute strike. The elusive centre-forward subsequently added a point to increase the gap between the teams at the Dublin Road venue.
Yet, as expected, Barrog grew in stature as the action progressed. Marauding wing-back Patrick Doyle caused a host of problems for Pat’s and he clipped an excellent point off his left foot to get the hosts up and running.
They received a further boost in the ninth-minute when Brian Hanratty was adjudged to have fouled Joe Flanagan inside the small square. Doyle stepped forward to negotiate the resulting place-kick and he coolly slotted into the bottom right-hand corner of the Pat’s net.
While this was a set-back for Enda Finnan’s visitors, they reined in the march of their opponents courtesy of quick-fire points from McDermott (free) and Killian McKeon. The Barrog threat was beginning to grow, though, and it took a wonder save by Alex Redmond to deny Matthew Nolan a goal on 14 minutes.
After Sean Gallagher converted a routine free, Doyle’s long-range kick hopped over the bar inside the second-quarter. This moved Barrog back on level terms and when Flanagan rounded off a patient move with a 21st-minute point, they edged in front for the very first time.
Gallagher added his second free following a foul on the influential Doyle, before a Turner placed ball ended a lengthy barren spell for Pat’s. This left them a single point adrift at the break (1-5 to 1-4) and firmly in contention for a second consecutive league win.
It took a full eight minutes for the next score to arrive on the resumption – Gallagher’s fine point from play giving Barrog additional daylight over their fellow northsiders. This was quickly supplemented by Nolan as the Kilbarrack outfit looked to push on for a maiden triumph in 2020.
It was turning into quite a tentative affair with clear-cut opportunities coming at a premium. Given they now had a three-point cushion to their credit, this suited Barrog down to the ground.
The challenge of Pat’s was not to be discounted, however, and McDermott kept them in touch with a pointed free on 41 minutes.
Gallagher did likewise at the opposite end to keep Barrog in the driving seat, but Pat’s set themselves up for a strong finish when substitute Daniel Moore struck a superb point on the turn.
Barrog’s own replacement, Eoin Carroll, also found the target, which meant Pat’s required a goal in the dying minutes to rescue a draw from this fixture.
They were offered a timely lifeline when Louis Finnan’s shot at an awkward angle was ruled to have been foot-blocked. There was enormous pressure on McDermott’s shoulders, but he stood up to the plate with a cool finish beyond the reach of Barrog custodian Killian Wallace.
Pat’s will look to build on this positive result when they welcome Fingallians to Donabate on Sunday week (March 22).
Meanwhile, Barrog face a tricky away assignment against Naomh Olaf at Pairc Ui Bhriain in Sandyford on the same day.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – Naomh Barrog: P Doyle 1-2 (1-0 pen), S Gallagher 0-4 (3f), M Nolan, J Flanagan, E Carroll 0-1 each. St Pat’s, Donabate: S McDermott 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), O Brooks 1-1, F Turner (f), K McKeon, D Moore 0-1 each.
NAOMH BARROG: K Wallace; L Glynn, S Craine, S O’Reilly; S Elliott, D Keegan, P Doyle; A Comerford, H Nolan; S Gallagher, M Nolan, G Lonergan; C McHugh, J Flanagan, C O’Daly.
Subs: E Carroll for McHugh (h-t), S Byrne for O’Daly (44).
ST PAT’S, DONABATE: A Redmond; K Murray, B Hanratty, A Groves; D Ryan, O Elmiger, P McGill; F Turner, M Crowe; L Finnan, O Brooks, K McKeon; S Kane, S McDermott, K Conroy.
Subs: D Moore for Crowe (h-t), R Hensey for Kane (39), Kane for Elmiger (56).
MENTORS – Naomh Barrog: Leo Gallagher, Paul Croft, Anthony Brady, Rory Lyne, Martin Doyle. St Pat’s, Donabate: Enda Finnan, Leslie Brooks, Peter Murray.
Referee: Finbarr Shanahan (St Margaret’s).
WIDES – Naomh Barrog: 6 (3+3). St Pat’s, Donabate: 10 (3+7).
CONDITIONS: Dry and bright throughout with a stiff breeze.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Patrick Doyle (Naomh Barrog).