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St. Louis Celebrate Year 8 Down Victory

June 12, 2013

St. Louis Claim Down Title in Local Derby Victory

St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel                                                  6-07

St. Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick                                4-08

It has been a good year for the young Gaelic footballers of St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel. The have competed very well in all competitions, reaching the final of the McLarnon Cup and the semi-final of the Mallon Cup. As the school’s football reaches its conclusion, St. Louis pinned hopes on capturing some silverware when the Year 8 boys reached the Down Schools Shield final.

The game, played at sunny but windy Dundrum, pitted St. Louis against local rivals St. Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick. As a local derby, the game was played at a frantic pace with both teams of Year 8 students eager to claim the last trophy of the school season.

Playing against the wind, St. Louis got off to a fine start with early goals from Eoin McGivern and Mason McCulla. It took some time for the Red High to get into their stride, but when they did they showed to sort of form that took them to this final. A Downpatrick goal and point attempted to even things out and only for some fine defensive work from Joseph Flood, Niall Keenan and Sean Quinn in the full back line, Downpatrick would have scored more. With Shea Madden at midfield and the lively due of Mason McCulla and Rian Cunningham making some highly effective runs at the Downpatrick defence, St. Louis were soon on the score board again as Paul Quinn notched up a goal  and quickly followed it up with a well taken point.

However, the last quarter of the half surely belonged to the Red High and they used the wind to their advantage and pounded the Kilkeel goal mouth. This onslaught began to reap rewards as Downpatrick levelled the game and overtook the Kilkeel boys with a powerful three goals and five points during their ‘purple patch’.  St. Louis counteracted with some efforts on the counter-attack, but were perhaps unlucky not to score after some fine interplay from the full forward line of Stephen Young, Darragh Morgan and Eoin McGivern. St. Louis did manage to notch up another point from half back Ciaran Bradley, but finding a way through the packed Downpatrick defence was proving to be an extremely difficult task. As referee Gavin Corrigan signalled the end of the first half, Downpatrick found themselves seven points up with the scoreboard reading St. Louis 3-02, St. Patrick’s 4-06.

With their players taking a well-earned rest, both management teams geared up their charges for a second half that would see only one take the crown. As the teams emerged it became clear the St. Louis boys were up for the challenge, despite being seven points in arrears.

A tactical switch by the St. Louis management team of Eamon McGlue and Matt Rice was to have a great bearing on the outcome of the game. The moving of their goal keeper, James Rice to full forward, with corner back Niall Keenan filling the goalkeepers role, afforded the Kilkeel boys greater strength and an excellent target with would prove to be critical  advantage.

St. Louis proved to be relentless with their attack, as they utilised the wind advantage to great effect. With their half back line of Caomhan Campbell, Sean McSwiggin and Ciaran Bradley thwarting any chance of a Downpatrick resurgence, the Kilkeel forwards received ample supply of excellent ball. St. Louis quickly set about reducing the deficit with an excellent second goal from Eoin McGivern and one from Stephen Young.

St. Louis were now beginning to dominate the games from every position with Shea Madden and Rory Quinn dropping into their defence to assist their defence when needed. With Mason McCulla again proving to be a thorn in the Downpatrick defence, gaps began to appear allowing Rian Cunningham, Mason McCulla and Ciaran Bradley send St. Louis into a lead they would never relinquish.

Downpatrick rallied late on in an attempt to halt the St. Louis juggernaut but were unfortunate to find stand in keeper Niall Keenan in good form, as he touched a fierce shot onto the post. They scored two points in the second half as the St. Louis management watched on as the presence of James Rice at full-forward paid off on the scoreboard and he crashed in a final goal to seal the title for the Kilkeel team.

It was an excellent contest between two very talented teams which proved highly entertaining to the large groups of spectators in attendance. It was a great advertisement for Down schools football and there is no doubt that these player will become familiar with each other as they will meet during numerous encounters in future competitions. However, the moment belongs to the Year 8 boys of St. Louis as the bring the title back to the Kingdom of Mourne.

St. Louis; James Rice (Atticall), Joseph Flood (Atticall) Niall Keenan (Atticall),  Sean Quinn (Bryansford), Caomhan Campbell (An Riocht), Sean McSwiggin (Burren), Ciaran Bradley (Burren), Shea Madden (Warrenpoint), Rory Quinn (Ballymartin), Paul Quinn (Ballymartin), Mason McCulla (Atticall), Rian Cunningham (Atticall), Eoin McGivern (Warrenpoint), Darragh Morgan (Bryansford) and Stephen Young (Bryansford).

SAubs; Conor Fitzpatrick (Bryansford), Cormac Keenan (Bryansford), Andrew Malloy (Bryansford), Morgan Buckley (An Riocht), Jack Grant (Atticall), Rory Walsh (Warrenpoint), Finn McAllister (Drumgath), Ross Fegan (Rostrevor), Sean Sheehan (An Riocht), Tiernan Turley (Castlewellan), Owen Coffey (An Riocht), Tommy Caldwell (Rostrevor), Juri Hilgert (An Riocht), Aaron McNulty (Bryansford)