NEWTOWN BLUES 1-7 
ST PATRICKS  0-10

Paddy Keenan capped a superb performance by kicking an equalising point two minutes from time to send the Senior Championship Final to a replay.

The game not have produced football from the top drawer, but it never lacked intensity and with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle, there was nobody in the sizeable crowd tempted to leave early.

On the balance of play, the Blues will be the more disappointed of the two sides with the outcome as they played the better football and had the better of the late chances.

The game began with the Pats having the advantage of the wind and three minutes in Paddy Keenan was pulled back when he looked certain to find the net. Referee Malachy Craven waved away appeals for a penalty and instead awarded a 13m free which Keenan sent over the bar.

However, a mistake at the back allowed the Blues respond immediately as John Kermode fired over. Keenan added a second for Pats on six minutes prewhile Eoin O'Connor was denied a goal chance when Stephen McCann came off his line to clear.

However, O'Connor did get off the mark to restore the Pats lead after Jimmy Murray had levelled.

The Blues efforts in pressing the Pats at every opportunity then paid dividends as they levelled again through Keith Lynch on 22 minutes before they won a penalty when Lynch flicked a high centre into the path of Murray who was hauled down. John Kermode confidently stepped up to hit the net and put his side 1-3 to 0-3 ahead.

A great run and point by Andy Murray had the Blues in control but the Pats rallied and two important points from Eamon Carroll and Paddy Keenan frees had their side trailing by just 1-4 to 0-5 at the break.

Blues were still favourites at that stage as they had the wind in their backs in the second, but such was the tight nature of the game that neither side could build up a head of steam.

Eamon Carroll reduce the gap to the minimum inside the opening minute, but Colm Judge replied after being fould by Sean Connor. With Keenan coming to the fore, the Pats enjoyed a good spell and by the 41st minute were back on terms at 0-8 to 1-5 thanks to points from Paddy Keenan and Eoin O'Connor.

O'Connor almost directed a wayward Danny O'Connor shot into the net before Keenan found space to  fire over after a quickly taken free and put his side 0-9 to 1-5 ahead.

Keenan then picked out Eoin O'Connor with a superb pass but the full forward was denied a goal by a brilliant Stephen McCann save on 20 minutes.

The introduction of Hugh McGinn lifted the Blues again and he levelled from a free after being fouled himself before John Kermode put the Drogheda side back in front at 1-7 to 0-9 on 24 minutes.

As the clocked ticked towards the hour mark and the Pats were looking for inspiration, it was no surprise that Paddy Keenan answered the call when he picked up a Darren O'Hanlon free and fired over with his left from a difficult angle.

Eoin O'Connor and John Kermode both put chances wide of the post before Kermode had the last real opportunity. However, his free from right on the touchline fell short and although Colm Judge had claims for a penalty, the referee once again waved them away and the final whistle sounded soon after.

ST PATRICKS: Sean Connor; Diarmuid McArtain, Dessie Finnegan, Darren O'Hanlon; Ray Finnegan, Eamon Breen, Owen Zamboglou; Paddy Keenan 0-7, Colin Goss; Paudie Mallon, Hynes, Aidan McCann; Eamon Carroll 0-2, Eoin O'Connor 0-1, Daniel O'Connor. Subs: Karl White for P Mallon (10 mins)

NEWTOWN BLUES: Stephen McCann; Thomas Costello, Cormac Reynolds, Aiden O'Brien; Stephen Moonan, Jamie Carr, Emmet Judge; John Kermode 1-2, Keith Lynch 0-1; Brian Kermode, Barry Sharkey, Conor Brannigan; James Murray 0-1, Colm Judge 0-1, Andy McDonnell 0-1. Subs: Ian McManus for B Sharkey (44), Hugh McGinn 0-1 for C Brannigan (48).

REFEREE: Malachy Craven

REFEREE: Malachy Craven