St Jude’s top in battle of the Saints but Peter’s do themselves proud in class Féile Division 1 final

Playing together till minor level before going back to their own clubs for the rest of their football journeys.

And here were St Peter’s in Parnell Park last Sunday. For the John West U-15 Dublin Division 1 Féile Football final. A high noon appointment in Donnycarney and the young North County men were relishing every second.

Officials Damian Murphy and Bernie McLaughlin savoured every second. They see the brightest of futures for such impressive footballers.

At ringside, a voice summed up the contest. “What a great game. Between two great sides.”

When it was over, the spectators in the stand rose to their feet. Their applause could be heard down in Fairview Park.

It was level three times in the first half. Jude’s were ahead by a point at the break, 2-5 to 1-7. And in a pulsating second period, the Templeogue club always managed to stay just a finger-nail in front of the opposition.

They have a fabulous full-forward in Billy Shouldice. Every one of his passes came with a tape measure.

He struck some nuggets. On the edge of the square, his balance was always able to gain him that precious half-yard.

Both sides used the ball so well, with short, crisp passing, laced with pace, driving forward. In the first half, the Jude’s right half-back, Seán Thornton, played a simple, clever pass out wide right and into space for Paddy Keighran with all the intelligence of Tom Lahiff.

Commitment and courage also topped the bill. Freddie Guy made the most timely of blocks to foil the busy Keighran.

Liam Galvin soared into the clouds to make a masterful catch. And the St Peter’s forward, Donnach McGee, hits the ball with precision and power. While their accomplished centre half-back, Daniel McGill, made some tremendous breaks down the pitch.

Jude’s began the contest playing into the score-board end. They were quickly on the attack, gaining plenty of possession. Shouldice got the first goal on seven minutes, skipping clear to steer in a low, tidy shot. Two minutes later, Jude’s had their second goal as Oisín Costello scored from close range.

It was soon 2-4 to 0-3 for the Tymon boys. But Peter’s kept playing their football. And good football it was.

They produced the following five scores. They included two delicious efforts from McGee, one of which was a ‘45’ that pinged over off the right-hand post.

Tadhg Stafford then curled over a left-footer before the brilliant full-forward, Finn Warnock, tucked in a 24th-minute goal inside the right-hand post. The goal followed a super move that had Stafford’s magnificent catch at its heart.

Warnock added a quick point. And the sides were level. Only for Keighran to edge Jude’s in front at the interval.

The entertainment got even better after that. There was a high tempo and intensity to this tussle, and it was such a sporting duel, too.

Shouldice drilled a jewel of a point off the outside of his right boot before he turned on a Euro to score another crucial point.

Jude’s were three points clear coming to the last bend. Stafford’s free and McGee’s point from play brought it back to a point.

Edge of the seat stuff. Jude’s defended with gusto. And then, three minutes from time, wide on the right in front of the stand, Shouldice landed a mighty free. A little bit of a cushion for Jude’s. But still, their work wasn’t done.

MATCHFILE

SCORERS– ST JUDE’S: B Shouldice 1-5 (0-2f), O Costello 1-1, P Keighran 0-2, R Laing, T Rooney, T Tisdell 0-1 each. ST PETER’S: T Stafford 0-5 (3f), F Warnock 1-1, D McGee 0-3 (1 45), S O’Brien 0-2 (2f), A McGlynn 0-1.

ST JUDE’S: P Fleming; R Meade, O Gough, T O’Connor, S Thornton, R Bagnall, R Laing, T Grace, L McNiff; T Tisdell, P Keighran, T Rooney, O Costello, B Shouldice, H O’Neill, J Durkan, B Kamara, C Martin, E O’Donnell, R Harlow, A Morris.

ST PETER’S: D McGuinness; J O’Brien, C O’Leary, E Brangan, F Guy, D McGill, T Stafford, L Galvin, J Foran, D McGee, A McGlynn, C Downey, S O’Brien, F Warnock, J Robertson, R Ennis, D Dunne, S Wilson, M Cahill, P Donnelly, L Tallon, A Balf Foran.

MENTORS – ST JUDE’S: C Costello, A Tisdall, J Durkan, R O’Neill, C Laing, A Hassett. ST PETER’S: I McGill, B Dunne, J Cahill, L Donnelly.

WIDES – ST JUDE’S: 4 (3+1); ST PETER’S: 4 (3+1).

REFEREE: David Cullen (Fingallians).

CONDITIONS: Bright, dry day. A cross-breeze.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Billy Shouldice (St Jude’s).