Once again, St Paul’s High School will feature in the BT Colleges Mac Larnon Cup Final after an impressive defeat of St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena last Saturday.
We’ve reproduced the match report below from the Ulster Colleges GAA website below.
St Paul’s Bessbrook 1-13 St Louis Ballymena 1-6
Last year’s beaten finalists St Paul’s Bessbrook powered their way back into the BT Mac Larnon Cup on March 19th with an impressive seven points win over St Louis Ballymena at Clonmore.
St Paul’s got off to a great start with the opening two points but a good move from St Louis saw Peter Duffin send John Cassidy through for a goal.
St Paul’s responded with 2 points from Conor Sloan, but an excellent solo effort from defender Joe Scullion and two frees from Peter Duffin had the sides tied at 0-6 to 1-3 at the break.
St Paul’s however upped the pace on the re-start and points from Jemar Hall, Ciaran O’Hanlon and Sloan put them 0-10 to 0-6 up.
Hall then sustained what looked like a serious arm injury and there were second yellows for Eoghan Burns (St Paul’s) and Neil McCafferty (St Louis).
But when play settled once more, St Louis could not eat into the lead despite 2 points from Duffin.
St Paul’s subs Aidan and Conor Nugent both added points and then, close to the finish, St Paul’s were awarded a penalty that Conor Sloan comfortably despatched to see them through to the decider where they will play the winners of Thursday evening’s replay at Queen’s between St Columb’s Derry and St Patrick’s Downpatrick.
St Paul’s : Blaine Hughes, Ciaran McCooey, Conor Moley, Stephen Lavelle, Fionnán Burns, Peter Campbell, Gerard Doherty, Eoghan Burns, Micheal Murphy, Connaire Mackin 0-1, Conor Sloan 1-4, Gregory McCabe 0-2, Ryan McCabe, Ciarán O’Hanlon 0-2, Jemar Hall 0-2.
Subs : Aidan Nugent 0-1 for R McCabe (ht), Conor Nugent 0-1 for J Hall (38), Jamie Cosgrove for F Burns( 55), Mark Feehan for C Mackin (57), Aaron McKay for G Doherty (59).
St Louis : Ben Johnston, Neil McCafferty, Niall Delargy, Gerard McCorley, Joseph Scullion 0-1, Padraig Conlon, Jordan Duffy, Michael O’Mullan, Patrick McAleer 0-1, Connor McNeill, Dermot McAleese, John Cassidy 1-0, Peter Duffin 0-4 frees, Declan Traynor, Dermot McWilliams.
(Report by Séamus McAleenan)
Keep an eye on our website over the next few weeks as we prepare for the Mac Larnon final.
10 comments
Thats it lads, this year we are bringing home the silverwear;) Naomh Pól Abú
by Oísin Murphy on 27/02/2012 at 12:52 pm #
Great achievement for the team to get back into the final. i really wish i hadnt have broken my collarbone in late august as i would have loved to keep goal in such a fantastic event.
by caolan mc aleer on 01/03/2012 at 1:08 pm #
A big congratulations to all involved. You all deserve this, all the hard work and discipline is paying off, you are almost there so hold on to that dream and you will be holding up that cup.
by patricia feehan on 05/03/2012 at 9:40 am #
Good to see us back in the final wohoo.. saying as i scored the most in the semi-final (1-4) i think i should be gave captaincy.
by Conor Sloan on 05/03/2012 at 10:14 am #
come on boys. we can do it !!!!!!!!!
i will be cheering u on all the way. woohoo
by stephen boyle on 05/03/2012 at 11:42 am #
Yes boys, wee cannot wait for the wee final, guna be some wee game, hope im wee starting too, we wee can do it this year boys. Come wee on st pauls!!
by Micky Mallon on 05/03/2012 at 12:12 pm #
Well Done Lads only can wish I was as good at handball as this team is at football .. 🙁
Good Luck in the final Lads !!
by Conall Mc Cavitt on 06/03/2012 at 9:28 am #
yea boys me and bro will be cheering you on big time!!!!
by Rachel Boyle on 06/03/2012 at 1:15 pm #
Boys im so proud to say i went to st pauls school. all past pupils and present pupils are so proud that youve reached the final two years on the trot. im dissapointed that i didnt stay to do my a-levels as i would deffinatly got A in each one i did. i also would have been on the panel for sure, probably would have started mid-field. Good Luck Boys!!!
by Danny Nesbitt on 07/03/2012 at 12:01 pm #
a wise man once told me that know mater big or (niall)little, weee can all make a diffrence. since 1st year i have bean behind the football teem 100% but it may have gone un-noticed, why just in fifth year i was the star player for the team until i let my studies come first so then i gave away my position to young gerry dochery, i know hes not that good but he tries hard and god loves a tryer. in my mind i know that secretley it was my support and prayers that got urs were use are today but at the same time fair play. and as the family in stuart little would say “little high, little low, little hey, little hoe”.
by niall little on 09/03/2012 at 9:59 am #