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Peregrine’s footballers fall narrowly in close encounter

St. Patrick’s 3-7 St. Peregrine’s 1-8

St. Peregrine’s traveled to windswept Palmerstown last Sunday, to face St Patrick’s for what proved to be a pulsating AFL 3 encounter. This was the first round of what will surely be a highly competitive league this year. Following the disappointment of having been denied senior status in a play-off with Skerries Harps last season, St. Peregrines will need little motivation to hit the ground running and ensure that promotion is secured at the first time of asking.

St. Peregrines, under the new management team of John Lowndes, Declan Patton and Kevin Downey, soon found themselves trailing to two well taken Pat’s points. The response was immediate, however, and with eleven minutes on the clock the Blanchardstown side were back on level terms.

The first-half witnessed some impressive passages of play, in particular, a great inter change between Gavin Moore and Ciaran Mc Guinness which saw the latter tapping over from a difficult angle. Pat’s grew in confidence as the half progressed and scored two well taken goals past St. Peregrine’s keeper Karl Walsh. Despite this, the home side left the field at half-time trailing by one point.

The scrappy start to the second-half was similar to that of the first. Pat’s dominated the midfield, with St. Peregrine’s suffering in the absence of several key regulars. Those on the field battled hard, however, and a goal widened the gap to four points in favour of the away side. Corner-forward Robbie McCarthy’s pass set up Stuart Lowndes, who made no mistake from close range.

Pat’s rallied with the wind in the time remaining and got themselves back in contention with some well taken points. With their forwards doing their part, the Pat’s full-back-line started to follow suit and frustrated the visitor’s attacking efforts. St. Pat’s took advantage of confusion in the Peregrine’s backline to score a third goal, and found themselves four points to the good in a game that had seemed out of their reach. As the game ran out, St. Peregrine’s frustration was compounded by missed opportunities from scoreable dead ball situations.

The determination in the camp to ensure that the club secures what it sees as its rightful place in AFL 2 can only have been heightened by a frustrating performance and result. However, it is early days yet and high hopes remain for better results in the coming games.

St. Peregrine’s: K.Walsh, E.Ryan. T.Reilly, D.Lynch, J.Hughes, D.Guinan, S.McGuinness, K,Nulty, D.Moran, D.Rooney, G.Moore, S.Sweeney, C.McGuinness, S.Lowndes, R.McCarthy. Subs: B.Costello.S.Costello. K.O'Connor, E.Jennings.

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