Pearses regain senior status with win over St Dominic's
by Sean Guinan Updated: Wednesday, 12th October, 2011 5:30pm
Padraig Pearses 2-10 St Dominic's 1-7
After getting out of jail with that late, late '45' by Aaron Fehilly six days earlier, Padraig Pearses returned to Kiltoom last Saturday evening for their rematch against St Dominic's who came so close to regaining the Jimmy Murray Cup last time out. On this occasion, however, there would be no such high drama denouement on the Newpark stage, as a clearly fired-up Red Brigade set out their stall for this replay.
A fly on the wall of their excellently appointed Woodmount complex would surely have heard some home truths emanating from the Pearses management team to their charges, in view of their virtual fade-out in the drawn match having led 1-3 to 0-1 after 23 minutes. In any event, whatever was said certainly had the desired effect.
Pearses owned possession for the entire opening half when aided by a strong wind and ended the half 2-7 to 0-1 to the good. This lead could have been considerably more but for some wayward marksmanship by Seamus Clogher's men, resulting in nine wides.
For their part, it was a simply dreadful scenario which faced St Dominic's. In arrears by 1-1 to 0-0 after only six minutes, their now customary reshuffle of their forces - from that listed on the programme - was of little help to their cause as Pearses tore them apart in wave after wave of attacks.
That second Pearses goal, in the 24th minute, was a real sickening blow to Darren Owen's charges, as they headed into the second half 12 points down, albeit with wind advantage to come,
It was hardly surprising, therefore, that few but their most partisan supporters gave the Knockcroghery men any chance of making one of their now traditional comebacks. But, in true style, it was a resilient Dominic's that re-emerged for the second half.
By the 47th minute, and thanks, in the main, to super-sub Naos Connaughton, they had amassed an unanswered 1-4, leaving a manageable five-points deficit.
However, Pearses rallied, and with a trio of Michael Duignan pointed frees, steadied the ship, going on to eventually reclaim Senior status, after just one season plying their trade at Intermediate level, before the rather disappointing attendance present.
Replays seldom follow the pattern of drawn encounters and this was no exception. Pearses did follow the original script with an early scoring flourish, but this time there was no second quarter rally by Dominic's. By the time the mid-county team staged a post-interval rally, the gap had grown too large, and there would be no late heroics needed by the Reds, as the outcome had a certain aura of inevitability about it.
Following that hugely impressive U21 success a year ago, and having now regained premier status, thoughts down Woodmount way will now surely focus on securing that elusive senior crown soon. Their team in Saturday's replay was a good mix of youth and experience, who certainly had their homework done since young Aaron Fehilly opened the prison gates with that priceless equaliser the previous Sunday.
Their defence, vulnerable a week earlier, when Dominic's pressed the accelerator, was much more resilient on this occasion, conceding only two points from play in a compact unit, where Paul Dunne, Paul Kelly, Declan Duffy and Niall Daly turned in excellent displays, while Aaron Fehilly also tackled superbly when brought back to this sector.
At midfield, Niall Carty (unlucky to be sidelined for two yellow cards) and Pat Connell, worked extremely hard against the Michael Finneran-powered Dominic's midfield outfit. Up front, Michael Duignan (despite missing a few scorable opportunities) emerged as top-scorer with 1-5, while Jason Clogher's superbly finished early goal set the scene for first-half dominance. Aaron Fehilly, Cathal Kelly Jnr and ball-winner-par-excellence Emmett Kelly also made significant contributions. Team captain John Connell, and as he has done throughout the campaign, provided tremendous leadership to his colleagues, while goalie Brian Croffy, Cathal Dolphin and Alan Duffy, all acquitted themselves with distinction on the resplendent Kiltoom stage.
It was a case of so near and yet so far for a truly gallant St Dominic's squad, who came within a hair's breadth of securing ultimate honours in the drawn game. They had a splendid campaign up to Saturday's replay, when the tide ran out on them, as that big deficit facing them in the second half proved a bridge too far.
But the commitment and creativity shown by them in championship 2011 will bring its just rewards before long. Goalie Mark Miley, defenders Patrick Fallon and Tom Gately, midfielder Michael Finneran, with forwards Conor Fallon, Declan Dowling and super-sub Naos Connaughton tried hard on an overall very disappointing day for them, with Paul Dolan clinically despatching the second-half penalty.
Scoring sequence
The scoring story is relatively straightforward on this occasion. Pearses went for the jugular from the start with Aaron Fehilly, starting where he left off the last day, pointing his side into the lead on two minutes. After four and a half minutes, corner back Paul Duke started the move, continued by centre back Niall Daly, which saw Jason Clogher's right-footed shot beat 'keeper Mark Miley for their first goal.
A crowded Dominic's rearguard was having little success in combating the lively Pearses attack. But their finishing was not on a par with their approach work (7 wides in 9 minutes). There now followed better gains by the Pearses forwards, accounting for an unanswered 1-5, the goal scored by Michael Duignan, following a superb clearance by full-back Paul Kelly.
Dominic's solitary first half score (a Conor Fallon pointed free) came in the 26th minute, but Michael Duignan's pointed free left Pearses sitting pretty at half-time (2-7 to 0-1.
It was now an uphill battle for Dominic's, despite the significant wind behind them. But two early points - Dowling and Fallon (free) gave some encouragement. A Conor Fallon sideline ball was fisted toward goal by Michael Finneran, but Brian Croffy saved smartly. Another Fallon pointed free preceded a penalty award to Dominic's, when sub Naos Connaughton was fouled going through, with Paul Dolan converting the spot kick.
A Connaughton point from play continued the revival, but Pearses steadied with three straightforward successive Duignan pointed frees. The usual flurry of subs were now introduced and in the generous five minutes injury time allowed, Dominic's (Fallon and Dolan) added two pointed frees, but it mattered not as Pearses were champions.
Scorers
Padraig Pearses: M Duignan (1-5, 0-4f), J Clogher (1-0), A Fehilly (0-1), C Kelly (0-1), D Duffy (0-1), P Duke (0-1), E Kelly (0-1 free).
St Dominic's: C Fallon (0-4, 4f), P Dolan (1-1, 1-0pen, 0-1f), D Dowling (0-1), N Connaughton (0-1).
Padraig Pearses:
Brian Croffy, Paul Duke, Paul Kelly, Cathal Dolphin, John Connell (capt), Niall Daly, Declan Duffy, Pat Connell, Niall Carty, Cathal Kelly Jnr, Jason Clogher, Michael Duignan, Emmett Kelly, Aaron Fehilly, Alan Duffy. Subs: Eamon Donoghue for E Kelly (48); Denis Whyte for J Connell (56), Niall Finneran for P Connell (57); David Grehan for Duignan (60); John Whyte for Clogher (63).
St. Dominic's:
Mark Miley, David Corcoran, Liam Murray, James Miley, Patrick Fallon, Paul Dolan, Tom Gately, Michael Finneran, Aidan Weir (capt), Niall Byrne, Conor Fallon, Declan Dowling, Oliver Milton, Thomas Gilleran, Ultan Kelly. Subs: Anthony Naughton for Weir (19); Robbie Byrne for J Miley (39); Naos Connaughton for Gilleran (44); Aidan Weir for Corcoran (53); Niall Naughton for Milton (58).
Referee:
Francis Keane (Michael Glavey's).
