St Michael’s delight in being football's top dogs in the city

St Michael’s 1-17 Passage 2-8

THE final whistle was greeted with jubilation by St Michael’s supporters, who spilled onto the pitch in their droves for the presentation of the trophy, after they defeated Passage to win the Sports Turf Solutions Seandún JAFC, their first triumph since 1987.

Passage could have converted further goal-scoring opportunities, but a combination of spectacular saves by St Michael’s netminder Cian Denn and shots rebounding off the posts were to be their undoing in Ballinlough.

Eoghan Buckley opened the scoring with a point for St Michael’s second team within a minute of the throw-in but Passage worked the ball up the park from the kick-out as Shane Howard soloed through the St Michael’s defence to score the game’s opening goal.

St Michael’s Mark Drummond exchanged points with Cathal McCarthy and this was followed by two points, including a free from Buckley, which levelled maters at 1-1 to 0-4.

Howard pointed a free but St Michael’s took a grip on proceedings to lead 0-8 to 1-4 at the break.

With the elements in their favour for the second half, St Michael’s had Passage on the back foot from the restart as Buckley pointed two frees and Alan Nolan tagged on a point from play, to open up a four-point gap.

Howard pointed a free for Passage before Liam Grainger replied with a goal for St Michael’s in the 37th minute from a solo run following a free, to leave six points between the sides.

Wayward kick-outs were proving to be costly for St Michael’s as Anthony Kidney capitalized on a defensive error to pounce for Passage’s second goal and reduce the deficit to three points in the 40th minute.

St Michael’s had Passage pinned back in the final quarter as they outscored Passage by six points to three.

Scorers for St Michael’s: E Buckley 0-8 (0-4 f); L Grainger 1-0; M Drummond 0-3; B Cain 0-2 (0-1 f); R Cotter 0-2; A Nolan, D O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Passage: S Howard 1-5 (0-4 f); A Kidney 1-2 (0-1 f, 0-1 45); N McCarthy 0-1.

St MICHAEL’S: C Denn; R Coleman, S Leneghan, J Cashman; L Carroll, D Corkery, E Sheehan; I O’Keeffe, F Cronin; M Drummond, B Cain, A Nolan; E Buckley, R Cotter, L Grainger.

Subs: D O’Sullivan for Nolan, P Doyle for O’Keeffe (both 49); M O’Keeffe for Leneghan (59, b/c); O Hanley for Drummond (60).

PASSAGE: Cian McCarthy; P Walsh, E Murphy, N O’Connor; R Cooney, R Harrington, K Burke; K O’Flynn, J Kind; G Carroll, S Howard, Cathal McCarthy; N McCarthy, A Kidney, R Carroll.

Subs: A Murphy for Walsh (39); S Harrington for O’Connor (53).

Referee: C Walsh (Nemo Rangers).