GREAT WIN FOR ST. MICHAELS 

Sunday March 24th 2019,
AFL Division 2, round 6

Full time: St. Michaels 0-14, St. Pats 0-11,
Half time: St. Michaels 0-07, St. Pats 0-03. 

St. Michaels led from pillar to post to pick up an all-important second win of the season when they defeated St. Pats in a close and entertaining contest at a blustery Carlanstown on Sunday morning. The home side built up a four point lead in the first half and although they got pushed back for spells after the interval, they stood firm and turned in an impressive overall performance and were deserving winners in what proved to be a keenly contested encounter.

Ciaran Lynch opened the scoring with a pointed free after Oran Meehan was fouled on three minutes, both players then shared a point apiece to go 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after 12 minutes play. The strong swirling cross wind made scoring difficult for both sides, however it didn’t affect Shane McDonnell who put a brilliant effort over from a ’45 to put three between the sides. St. Pats pulled two back from frees but that completed their tally for the opening half. Meanwhile Lynch and McDonnell posted a further three minors between them to lead by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.

St. Pats were first out of the blocks in the second half with a point in the opening minute, Ciaran Lynch replied with two points, one from play and one from a free. St. Pats replied from a free, then substitute Peter O’Connell sent an inch perfect pass across the width of the pitch to Ciaran Lynch who duly popped it over the crossbar for a five point lead. A great run from Meehan ended with him posting his second point of the game on 40 minutes. The following 10 minutes saw St. Pats enjoy their best spell of the match as they sent over 4 points without a reply from the home side to leave it a two point game.
Another Lynch free settled the St. Michaels nerves and with some brilliant defending from the St. Michaels backs and especially Daithí O’Reilly, Christopher Drew, Davy Lynch, Matthew Halpin and Paddy Clarke, the St. Pats attacks were well and truly thwarted.
Then a great move started by O’Connell, who moved it to McDonnell and finished by Meehan put four points between the sides, but again St. Pats hit back with two of their own to reduce the deficit to just two points, however there was only time for one more score from the St. Michaels corner forward Oran Meehan which capped a fine performance from him.

St. Michaels team and scorers:
Darren O’Connell; Christopher Drew, Daithí O’Reilly, Ciaran O’Reilly; Ronan Lynch, Paddy Clarke, Ben Reilly; Matthew Halpin, David Lynch; Paddy Tobin, Cian Sheridan, Ray Reilly; Oran Meehan (0-4), Shane McDonnell (0-3), Ciaran Lynch (0-7, 5f).

Sub: Peter O’Connell for Ronan Lynch (inj.) 29 minutes, Lee Morris for Paddy Tobin 53 minutes.

Referee: Peter O’Halloran.
Report: Pascal Reilly PRO.