Oughterard boys just fall short in marathon affair

Date Published: 09-Apr-2009

A FAILURE to record a single score in extra-time of this pulsating All-Ireland Colleges Senior ‘B’ football final put paid to any hopes of St. Paul’s of Oughterard claiming a first ever national title at this level.

Devastation was the only word to describe the overriding feeling enveloping the St. Paul’s players after this intriguing contest at Pairc Sean Mhic Dhiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon last Saturday.

In truth, the Galway side should have had this game wrapped up by half-time, but wayward shooting, an inability to take their goal chances and a dubious square ball decision meant that they only led by a point, 1-2 to 0-4, at the interval.

Indeed, in this opening period, St. Paul’s kicked six wides, including a superb goal chance, hit the upright twice, and spurned another two gilt-edged goal opportunities. In fact, St. Paul’s had so much possession, particularly in the second quarter, that they really should have been out of sight on the scoreboard.

After 18 minutes, St. Paul’s led 1-2 to 0-3, with Cathal Sweeney kicking their opening point from play following a sweet pass from his twin brother Patrick in the opening minute, before they reversed the roles on seven minutes when Cathal set up Patrick who blasted St. Paul’s first goal to the back of the net.

Patrick subsequently converted a free on 18 minutes to nudge St. Paul’s into…