Published: Wednesday, 10th February, 2010 4:53pm

Hat-trick for St Patrick's

by Jimmy Geoghegan

St Patrick's 8, Skerries 3

Gareth McGrane goes over for the crucial try at Balreask Old on Friday night where St Patrick's CS, Navan won the Duff Cup for the third time.
Pic by==: 97

The St Patrick's CS, Navan players trooped off the Balreask Old pitch on Friday evening in unison and singing a song in triumph after this Duff Cup final victory over Skerries.

They had every reason to celebrate as they had achieved a rare feat by claiming victory in this Leinster Schools' competition for the third successive year, an indication of the growing strength of the oval ball game in the school.

The crucial score came just four minutes from the end of an entertaining, highly competitive encounter played on the second pitch at the home of Navan RFC. A problem with the floodlights led to a switch from the main pitch.

The winning score came when St Pat's centre Gareth McGrane did what he had threatened all evening and conjured up a little bit of magic to weave his way through a crowded Skerries defence and over the line.

The touchdown was greeted with loud shouts of joy from the contingent of St Pat's supporters who combined with the big following from Skerries to ensure this game was played in a raucous atmosphere.

McGrane missed the conversion, but as it turned out that didn't matter as St Pat's were able to contain a late surge from the Co Dublin side to win.

It was a special occasion for Ciaran Murphy who coached the team along with Kenny Keelan.

Murphy has been involved in all three Duff Cup-winning sides and after this latest episode he praised his troops for the way they kept battling against a highly competent and determined Skerries outfit.

"Unbelievable, the effort put in by our lads was unbelievable they could have given up, they had to withstand a lot of pressure," he told the Meath Chronicle seconds after the final whistle.

"These lads are all heart, they put in a huge effort to get here and just kept battling to the end," he added.

The evening was a little less memorable for another member of the St Pat's set up who has now three Duff Cup medals to his name.

Matthew Clarke was the only St Pat's player who started this game having been involved in the triumphs of 2008 and 2009.

He began the contest brightly and was doing a lot of good work around the fringes of the rucks and scrums in the opening minutes.

Then he picked up an injury in a ruck and was forced to leave the fray to be replaced by Adam Keating.

The sides were scoreless at the break and the team most disappointed with this outcome would have been St Pat's.

They dominated the opening half with McGrane embarking on a number of mazy runs that caused consternation in the Skerries defence. Stephen Keelan and Shane Gallagher almost got through for the Navan side only to be held up short of the line.

The Skerries defence proved to be stubborn, but the pressure did tell and they were forced to concede a number of penalties.

Most of the time St Pat's out-half Colm O'Reilly went for touch and sought to provide a platform for a concerted attack on the tryline. On one occasion he opted to kick. He was about 30 metres out and he curled his effort wide of the posts.

Early in the second-half a skilful little kick ahead by O'Reilly almost created a chance for Gallagher to score a try. The bounce didn't favour the St Pat's player and the danger was cleared.

Skerries applied plenty of pressure and it took some heroic defending to contain them. At one stage St Pat's conceded three penalties in quick succession.

Midway through the second-half O'Reilly was just wide with a penalty attempt. Shortly afterwards he stood up to take a penalty from an almost identical position. This time he directed the ball just inside the left post. Cue loud cheers and roars of "St Pat's, St Pat's."

Skerries most dangerous player all evening was Paul O'Connor.

A highly talented full-back he was one of the main players in an attack his team put together immediately after they fell behind. The ball was moved through phase after phase.

Skerries were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty 20 metres out in front of the posts. O'Connor made no mistake and his team was back in the game.

The balance of play flowed one way, then the other in the closing stages. Both sides were awarded penalties by referee George Clare who did a good job. O'Reilly was just wide from another left-footed penalty attempt. "Is there extra-time?" asked a Skerries supporter.

As it turned out it wasn't needed.

With the seconds ticking away a Skerries mistake from a 22 drop-out resulted in a Navan scrum.

The ball was worked wide. Jack Condie, O'Reilly and Keelan were involved in getting the ball out to McGrane who displayed great skill to get in at the corner for the winning score. O'Reilly's conversion attempt from the sideline hit the upright and fell wide.

However, St Pat's held firm in the closing minutes to achieve their cherished three-in-a-row.

St Patrick's CS - C Brennan, H Hester, S Gallagher, G McGrane, T Pretorius, C O'Reilly, J Condie; E McGrane, S Faulkner, A Yeats, E Noonan, B McGovern, M Clarke, S Keelan, D Ryan. Subs - A Keating for Clarke, E Molloy for Ryan.

Skerries - P O'Connor, N McConvey, D Ronayne, S McAuley, S Hickey, C Lennox, D Ward, C McNally, K Leonard, A Carbury, J C Botena-Vey, J Dowling, J Downey, N Jack, D O'Connor. Subs - I Furlong for McAuley.

Referee - George Clare (Leinster Branch).

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