Super Saints are 1B champions
The St. Paul's players celebrate their win over Seaview Celtic as they claimed the 1B League on The Moon on Tuesday night. Photo: Paul Elliott.
On Tuesday night, in front of a big attendance, St. Pauls defeated Seaview Celtic to win promotion to the 1A League. Goals from Dale Sheridan and Jimmy Byrne were enough for them to secure the three points needed to win promotion. There was huge delight when referee Ian O’Keeffe blew the final whistle as supporters of the Parish raced onto the field to celebrate with the players.
It was Celtic who took up the running from the opening whistle. On two minutes striker Niall Power got away a first time shot but Saints’ keeper Dale Sheridan was well placed to save at the near post. From the resulting corner-kick from Peter Ellickson the ball fell to Damian Burns but he headed over from six yards.
It took the home team some time to settle into the game and on 17 minutes St. Pauls’ striker Jamie Gaffney turned sharply in the box. His shot beat Celtic keeper Anthony Power but his team-mate Dylan Colfer got back to clear off the line. Four minutes later Gaffney set up fellow striker Willie Reilly inside the box but goalkeeper Power deflected the ball wide with his foot.
St. Pauls took the lead on 26 minutes. Damian Burns fouled Willie Reilly in the box and up stepped Saints keeper Dale Sheridan and he found the net with a clever spot-kick. The home team doubled their lead on 38 minutes. Robin Brophy reached the end line and whipped the ball into the box. Jimmy Byrne controlled the ball and drove a low right foot shout into the far corner of the net.
In the second-half the Saints pushed forward and Willie Reilly headed a cross from Aaron Connolly against the far post. Minutes later Paddy Reilly fired in a right-wing cross and Willie Reilly headed over from close range.
Things got a little bit scary for St. Pauls on 65 minutes when Celtic pulled a goal back. Peter Ellickson pulled the ball back across the box and with the Saints defence standing, in came Niall Power and he swept the ball into the net beyond the stranded Dale Sheridan.
Back came the Saints and substitute Jake O’Connor with his first touch of the ball on 73 minutes went close with a low drive that forced Anthony Power into a fine save. At the other end Seaview threw everybody into attack on 79 minutes as they won a corner-kick but Saints defender Craig Reidy cleared the danger with a vital header.
On 80 minutes St. Pauls wrapped up the points, wrapped up the game and wrapped up the league title with a superb third goal. Stephen Keating played a clever ball down the side of the Celtic defence and Jimmy Byrne showed a striker’s instinct as he got behind the visitors’ defence and drove a left-foot strike into the net to give St. Pauls’ manager Mark Colfer and his team the league
title.
Dale Sheridan, Jake Burke, Craig Ready, Dean Keoghan, Michael Collins (Stephen Keating ‘70), Aaron Connolly, Robin Brophy, Jamie Gaffney (Jake O’Connor ‘72), Willie Reilly, Jimmy Byrne (Jamie Hutchinson ‘84), Paddy Reilly.
Anthony Clarke, James Fitzgerald, Mark Allen (Anthony Whelan ‘72), Dylan Colfer, Damian Burns (Hayden Lenihan ‘82), Adam Drohan (Jason Whelan ‘82), Niall Power, Peter Ellickson, Jamie Burns, Michael Queally.
Ian O’Keeffe.
