St. Paul’s leads the way in the formative league table after 2 rounds of the All County Football A League Division 5. They are joined at the top by Curraha and Moynalty who have also won both of their respective games in the opening weekends of the 2009 competition.This weekend’s game against Drumree was moved to Kiltale due to an unplayable pitch at Clonee.
The Paul’s side started brightly with two points in the opening minutes, but Drumree replied shortly afterwards with a point of their own. At times though the football was poor, with both sides struggling with the heavy under foot conditions. Notwithstanding, St. Paul’s were never led and at the break were ahead by 1-5 to 0-2 following scores from Declan Cunningham (1-0), Dave Coleman (0-1), Philip Connolly (0-2) and Aidan Minch (0-2) who was to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder at half-time.
Just as in the first half, Paul’s were the better starters and the game was ultimately settled by their second goal which was started with a break by Rory Kissane from his own 45, he carried into the Drumree half and the attack was ultimately finished by Dave Coleman. As the game entered the final quarter, Drumree began attacking with more purpose and found a number of scores, but rarely threatened the St. Pauls goal and they were able closed out as seven point winners and went to the head of the league table following the 2-8 to 0-7 victory.
Before leaving the field injured, Aidan Minch was one of the better performers for St. Paul’s, while midfielders Declan Cunningham and Rory Kissane were particularly to the fore especially in the second period.
There were some excellent performances too from among the replacements, not least Fergal O’Neill who, at right-half forward, provided an outlet for the St. Paul’s defence on a number of occasions as Drumree piled forward in search of some scores in the fourth quarter.
