Kerr’s goal key to St Paul’s win in MacRory
Kerr’s goal key to St Paul’s win in MacRory
November 20, 2015
St Paul’s Bessbrook 1-12 Abbey CBS 1-8
ST PAUL’s Bessbrook moved into second place behind St Colman’s Newry in the Danske Bank MacRory Cup table after a four points win over Abbey CBS yesterday in Saval.
They can claim an automatic quarter-final spot if Omagh CBS fail to win their top of the table clash with St Colman’s this morning and then on Tuesday St Ronan’s get a draw or better from their last game against holders St Patrick’s Cavan.
Liam Kerr’s beautifully executed goal three minutes into the second half was the decisive score in this game.
St Paul’s had turned around to face a strong breeze just three points ahead after Shay Murdock had scored a superb goal in the last couple of minutes of the first half.
However on the re-start St Paul’s worked the ball through Abbey’s cover for Kerr to chip over the goalkeeper and into the top corner.
From that platform, Bessbrook were able to control Abbey’s scoring threat and break for scores of their own from Jarlath óg Burns, Declan and Shea Loye.
Abbey pulled a lot of players back into defence in the opening half against the strong breeze and St Paul’s opted more often than not to shoot from distance.
All Conor Clarke’s four points came from well outside the 45, as did the two that high-fielding Jarlath óg Burns scored.
St Paul’s were four up before Ronan Reel scored the first of his three frees of the half. The goal lifted Abbey going into the break, but they didn’t get a chance to build on it and were chasing the game in the second half.
St Paul’s : Liam Kerr 1-1, 0-1 free, Conor Clarke 0-4, Jarlath óg Burns 0-3, Niall McGuinness 0-1, Aaron Doyle 0-1, Declan Loye 0-1, Shea Loye 0-1free.
Abbey : Shay Murdock 1-0, ronan Reel 0-7, 0-6 frees, Callum O’Neill 0-1
