Encouraging signs for St Pat's CS in their victory over Ardee

St Pats show their class against Ardee

As 2024 draws to a close St Patrick's Classical School, Navan can look back on some encouraging results including the most recent 1-17 to 0-9 victory over Ardee Community School in the Br Bosco Cup at Paric Tailteann on Tuesday of last week.

Oran Meade described how the game panned out

The game started with action at both ends and in the third minute, Óisín O’Neill got St Pat's up and running with the first point of the game.

Some hard work from the St Pat's forwards led to a turnover close to the Ardee goal. The left Billy Smyth one-on-one with the Ardee keeper who did well to get a hand to the shot.

The pressure exerted by the Saints continued with some high pressing by the home side's forwards on the Ardee defence.

St Pat's did well to turnover many of Ardee’s counter attacks with interceptions and strong tackling from the hard working St Pat's defence.

The next score came from Fionnán O’Connor in the tenth minute with a long range point with his left boot. Óisín O’Neill knocked over his second point of the day after some good work in midfield.

With no response from Ardee, the Navan side continued their dominance with a pointed free from the impressive Cian Commons.

Ardee struggled to break through the St Pat's defense as they continued to intercept Ardee’s attempted passes with Harry Cahill and Matthew Kealy sweeping up on their own 45.

Conor Donohoe extended the home team's lead to five with a fine attempt followed by a third point for the St Pat's wing back, Óisín O’Neill.

Ardee would finally put themselves on the scoreboard with a point from play in the 24th minute, but St Pat's replied swiftly with a brilliant pass from Commons to Billy Smyth whose shot was stopped by the crossbar.

However the resulting goal line scramble led to a St Pat's penalty. Billy Smyth, the captain of the side, stepped up and slot the ball into the net to give St Pat's an eight point advantage approaching half-time.

However Pats didn't take their foot off the pedal as Commons scored from a superb long distance attempt and this added to a Smyth mark left it 1-8 to 0-1 to the home side at the interval.

With a blistering first half behind them, St Pat's continued from where they left off. Commons scored his third point of the day one minute into the second-half.

Ardee would reply with a point of their own but it would be Commons once again with a well taken score at the end of a good run that helped to get St Pat's moving again in the new half.

An Ardee pointed free didn't faze the dominant St Pat's side who knocked over two further points to stretch their lead. However it was the Louth team who would control the play for the next six minutes with three unanswered points.

The St Pat's defence did well to halt the Ardee attack on several occasions with strong play from Seán McLoughlin and his fellow defenders. With the Navan side trying to see the game out, both teams traded two points each with the Skryne duo Billy Smyth and Conor Donohoe firing over for the Saints.

Now approaching the end of the game, Matthew Kealy would send the ball sailing over with ease from a 45, producing a great reaction from the St Pat's supporters.

Andrew Gormley would follow with a score from a tight angle to put his name on the score sheet.

Ardee would reply with a point from a 45 of their own but it was Smyth who capped off a great performance for the home side with a point from play.

St Patrick's CS - Jamie Norris; Fionn McHale, Seán McLoughlin, Tadhg Murray; Óisín O’Neill (0-3), Matthew Kealy (0-1, 45), James Donnelly; Darren O’Brien, Harry Cahill, Fionnán O’Connor (0-1), Cian Commons (0-5), Daniel Gavagan (0-1), Andrew Gormley (0-1), Billy Smyth(1-3, one penalty, one free), Conor Donohoe (0-2).

Subs - Alex Carry, David Donnelly, Senan Duffy, Ben Clarke, Jamie Dufffy