On Tuesday St. Pat’s made the long but enjoyable journey down to the Connacht Centre Of Excellence to play a strong Claregalway side in a friendly. This was to help them prepare for a big clash with Clane next week. With the largest sports air dome in the world on site St. Pat’s unfortunately had to play their game outdoors on a grass field.
Claregalway got off to a good start with a point in the opening minute but St. Pat’s responded quickly with a point from Conor Donohoe. Cian Commons got his first score of the game in the 5th minute after the ball was delivered into him and he slotted it over the bar. Claregalway scored a goal in the 11th minute but St. Pats responded very well with 3 points on the trot, one from Cian Commons, one from Ciaran Quinn and yet another 45 from Matthew Kealy. St Pat’s had one or two goal chances but with some last ditch defending from the Galway side and a very good save from the goalkeeper that denied St. Pat’s the lead. St. Pat’s continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over with Cian Commons adding a 6th point for St. Pat’s.
However, just as it looked like St. Pat’s were getting back in the game Claregalway were awarded a penalty which was slotted into the top corner giving St. Pats goalkeeper Luke Healy no chance of saving it. Billy Smyth got St. Pat’s final score of the first half with a point from play. The halftime score was St. Pats 0-8 Claregalway 2-5.
With a low scoring second half, Robby Finnegan got St. Pat’s first two scores. They were followed two minutes later from the boot of Cian Commons who converted two scores in quick succession. Substitute Sam Kirwan also added a point to the scoreboard but St. Pats fell just short as the final score was St. Pats 0-13 Claregalway 2-11.
However, the game was not over yet and the subs got a chance to shine and try and win a place on the team for the Clane game. With a full new team on the pitch St. Pats clicked straight away and came out 0-6 to 0-5 winners in the 20 minutes that was played. St Pats points coming from Sam Kirwan, Andrew Gormley, Corbin Jenkinson and three points from Ben Corkery.
Another positive performance and a really good test ahead of the crucial game against Clane next Thursday which will determine if St. Pats can get a home draw in the next round.
St. Pats team: Luke Healy, Cormac Liggan, Breandán Mc Guinness, Luke Doyle, Connor Donohoe(1-0),Danny Waters, Matthew Kealy(0-1), Darren O’Brien, Tadhg Martyn, Ciaran Quinn(0-1), Andrew Canavan, Harry Cahill, Cian Commons(0-5), Billy Smyth(0-1),Robby Finnegan(0-3)
By Colin Scanlon
