ST Patrick’s began the defence of their Minor Championship Title in style with a convincing three point win over a much fancied Warrenpoint side in this first round tie at the seaside venue.

Competitive, organised and assured, St Patricks warmed to this game from the throw-in and after taking a second minute lead they looked well in control until a late flurry of scores from the home side threatened a dramatic late turn-a-round.

It could have been so different in the opening seconds for Warrenpoint, when Miceal Cunningham burst through the St Pats rearguard only to see his point blank shot brilliantly saved and cleared by goalkeeper Michael McAllister.

St Pats profited from the early let-off and heeded the warning by switching James McDermott to put the shackles on Cunningham and a superb St Pats defence went into lock-down mode and totally snuffed out the the threat and the spirit of Warrenpoint’s championship challenge.

Three early pojnts from Paul O’Neill gave the visitors a lead they were never to lose and all Warrenpoint could muster in reply were two pointed frees from Miceal Cunningham and Matthew Teague.

The St Pats defence were in superb form with James McDermott, Kieran Maguire and Conor McClorey doing the man-marking jobs whilst Jamie Murray, Niall Byrne and Ryan Haughey provided the clearances that relieved the pressure and set the Reds attack in motion.

As Warrenpoint became frustrated St Patricks kept adding up the points with Niall McAleenan, Martin Connolly, Patrick Macken and Paul O’Neill (3) pushing the holders into a comfortable six point half time lead.

Warrenpoint came out with renewed vigour in the second half with Cunningham and the Teague twins providing the inspiration for a spirited comeback.A great overhead strike from Kelvin Magee gave St Pats an early boost but two unanswered Warrenpoint points signalled the start of the home sides revival.

A great goal from Paul O’Neill and another point from Magee stretched St Pats lead to nine points but it was clear that the home side were in the ascendancy and two disallowed St Pats points and a disputed Warrenpoint score gave the sea-siders the leg-up they needed to stage a thrilling fight-back.

A goal and four points from the home side were the fruits of their new found confidence and it took three long range points from O’Neill to keep St Pat’s noses in front. St Pats could not find anyway through up front and then the inevitable happened and Warrenpoint got the second goal in the closing minutes to reduce the deficit to the minimum and a shock result looked on the cards.

However, St Pats found that extra gear and responded to the challenge with Paul O’Neill’s two late points putting paid to any chances of a shock result.

St Pats now advance to a quarter final tie with Mourne Shamrocks with the possibility of that tie taking place under the floodlights at Pairc Esler in Newry.