All-Ireland Paddy Drummond Cup final: St Joseph's, Donaghmore 2-12 Abbey CBS, Tipperary 0-9
TWO goals from full-forward Mattie McNally in a six-minute spell in the third quarter turned this Paddy Drummond Cup final on its head as St Joseph's, Donaghmore claimed All-Ireland honours at the expense of Abbey CBS, Tipperary at the Connaught Centre of excellence on Saturday afternoon.
The Tyrone lads had been the better side in the first half but they kicked eight wides while their opponents had none and that meant they trailed by a point at the break. That gap rose to three in the opening minutes of the second half but once McNally found the net twice, St Joseph's never looked back as they emerged emphatic winners in the end. Team Captain Ronan Molloy was jubilant afterwards.
“Words can’t describe it, it’s unbelievable, it’s one of the best days of my life,” said Molloy.
“It is such a great team and to be captain of it means the world to me but the lads deserve it as they put in such a great performance.
"We went in at half-time knowing that we were in a battle and we knew that we had to work harder than them in order to come out on top and that’s what we did in the second half.
ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS
— St Joseph's Grammar (@SJS41) March 11, 2023
SJS 2-12
⚪️ABY 0-09
Congratulations to our Senior Footballers who have won the All-Ireland Paddy Drummond Cup and have again made history for SJS.
Well done to the lads and management. #SJSAbú! pic.twitter.com/j4wyamBBtG
"We were creating chances in the first half but just weren’t taking them so we had to be more clinical and that’s what we were in the second half with the two goals massive scores in the game.”
Cormac Drayne opened the scoring for St Joseph's but they then found themselves 0-5 to 0-2 down after Colin O’Grady, Bill Quirke, Conall Grogan and David Ryan had all scored for Abbey. McNally had hit the side netting with a goal chance while Noah Grimes forced keeper Robbie McGrath into a great save.
A brilliant Grimes point helped reduce the deficit to the minimum at the break but within two minutes of the restart efforts from Orrin Jones and Grogan left three between the sides. It was at this stage that St Joseph's took their performance to another level however.
Darragh Donaghy crossed for McNally to get his first goal and points from Molloy and Grimes followed before McNally raised a green flag again for a 2-7 to 0-7 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Jones knocked over a brace of frees for Abbey CBS but Donaghmore were well on top at this stage with Grimes taking his personal haul to 0-7, Donaghy hitting a brace and impressive midfielder Shane Scullion also on target as they ran out deserving winners.
St Joseph's Donaghmore: L Quinn; J McNally, B Hughes, C Sweeney; J Rafferty, J Clarke, C O’Neill; S Scullion (0-1), J McKenna; L Hughes, N Grimes (0-7, 0-3 frees), D Donaghy (0-2 frees), C Drayne (0-1 frees), M McNally (2-0), R Molloy (0-1 frees).
Subs: J Field for J McNally, C Donaghy for Sweeney, E O’Neill for Molloy, MJ Mansell for M McNally
Abbey CBS Tipperary: R McGrath; G Cussen, D O’Brien, E Bonner; E Doocey, C O’Grady (0-1), P Downey; B Quirke (0-1), S Dee; S O’Grady, O Jones (0-4, 0-3 frees), L Carew; C O’Dwyer, C Grogan (0-2, 0-1 free), J O’Dwyer. Subs: D Ryan (0-1) for Downey, C Martin for Cussen, E Kennedy for C O’Dwyer, G O’Meara for Grogan, D O’Dwyer for J O’Dwyer
Referee: A Coyne, Westmeath
