St Mary’s U13’s perfect start to the season shows no sign of ending as they thrashed Belvoir 8-0 at Hydebank on Saturday to record their ninth win from nine games, despite missing top scored O’Reilly who picked up an injury last week. I’m sure he would have bagged a hatful had he been fit to play, maybe just as well for Belvoir !!
The pitch at Hydebank was very heavy and it took St Mary’s a while to produce their trademark freeflowing football. With 10 minutes gone, McNaughton shot wide, and Breen and Ross also missed the target, before McNaughton fired home after the Belvoir keeper made a hash of a clearance. The second followed shortly after when a Breen throw-in caught the defence napping and McGarrity slotted home from close range. Belvoir were struggling to get a grip with the rampant midfield of Ross, Bannon, Quinn and Parke, and conceded a third when a great 25 yard free from Ross sailed into the net, although young Parke claimed it touched his hair on the way in ! We await the decision of the dubious goals committee on this one!!
Just before the halftime whistle St Mary’s had several chances to make it 4-0 with Quinn shooting just wide and Parke having a shot blocked, before Roos got his second of the game to make it 4-0 at the break.
With the points secures by half-time, the coaches made several changes for the start of the second half with Peter Morgan, Breen, O Malley and Begley all coming on for St Mary’s.
It was one of the subs who made it 5-0 when Peter Morgan was fed a pass by Donaghy, and he cut in from the byeline and shot which the keeper was unable to keep it out as it squeezed in by the post. Minutes later it was 6-0 when the ever reliable Mc Garritty poked the ball home after the ball was initially cleared by the Belvoir keeper. It was all St Mary’s pressure, and when Lynch fed Donaghy on the right hand side of the box, he seemed to go down like Suarez but the referee waved play on. With the benefit of replay, it seemed he was clearly scythed down by the desperate defender, and Belvoir got off lightly. The referee made amends minutes later when he awarded a spot kick for a foul on Lynch on the left flank, and Breen stepped up to smash it home to make it 7-0 on the day.
The ‘cat’ Morgan was in danger of getting hypothermia in the St Mary’s goal, so Quinn replaced him with ten minutes to go, which allowed him a rare spell out of goals. His enthusiasm was rewarded with about 5 minutes to go, when he and Lynch worked a short corner, and Morgan curled in a cracker from the edge of the box to complete the rout.
Star men on the day were Ross, McGarritty and Parke, but as usual the boys turned in a great team performance, which the team coaches are very proud of.
This week the guys have a tougher encounter at Hydebank at 11:00 am against a Holywood side who also boast a 100% record, of six wins from six games, so something must give. They may have to do it without McNaughton who is boxing at the Ulster Championships this Saturday, and naturally his team-mates wish him well. Training is at St Patricks as usual on Thursday night at 7:30 pm.
