Updated: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 5:00pm

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Forde drives Navan students forward

by Conall Collier

St Patrick's CS, Navan 2-13, St Mary's, Edenderry 0-10

Alan Forde drives forward for St Patrick's CS, Navan against St Mary's, Edenderry on Saturday.

St Patrick's CS, Navan qualified for the Leinster Colleges' SFC decider with an emphatic semi-final replay victory over St Mary's, Edenderry at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Saturday.

Erroneously credited by the Meath Chronicle with scoring a match-saving equalising goal a fortnight ago, Fiachra McEntee endured a type of 'Groundhog Day' when he put the record straight this time around.

McEntee genuinely claimed the last goal of the game when he got a touch to Shane Gillespie's lofted centre and the net bulged.

Granted, on this occasion, the goal was not as crucial, but served to put an extra gloss on a confident team performance as the Navan students swept aside the challenge of formidable opposition.

The victory immediately left team manager Colm O'Rourke in a quandry because the final is scheduled for next Saturday against Dublun school Colaiste Eoin. O'Rourke must also take charge of the Meath team in the quarter-final of the Leinster u-21 FC against Westmeath, also at Cusack Park.

"Leinster Council are aware of the my predicament and hopefully we will be able to resolve the matter," O'Rourke told the Meath Chronicle on Saturday afternoon.

This was an excellent performance by St Pat's who welcomed Cormac Noonan back to midfield. Noonan limped out of the action in the second round at Dr Cullen Park against Good Counsel and Shane Barry deputised.

Barry was deployed in the half-forward line on Saturday and Paddy Fox reverted to the half-back line from where he raided consistently down the wing and used his pace to get back and defend.

St Pat's started positively and had an early chance for a goal, but Barry's effort thundered off the crossbar. The Simonstown player pointed a 30-metre free soon after and Niall Groome doubled the advantage with a storming run from his starting half-back position.

St Mary's found the perfect response with a brace of points. Philip Foy got the Offaly side on the scoreboard from play and Sean Hurley's seventh minute free drew the sides level.

St Pat's then lost Brian Dillon to an early injury and he was replaced by Colin Wickham.

"Brian Dillon has had problems with a hamstring, we thought he was fit to play, but it went straight away and we had to replace him," stated the manager.

"Fortunately, we have a strong panel and Colin Wickham came in as a replacement, we adapted and the players picked up well from that setback," he added.

However, the Edenderry side remained in the ascendancy with a brace of points from well-taken Hurley frees as Fiachra Ross split the posts and reduced the deficit to the minimum (0-3 to 0-4) after 12 minutes of high-tempo action.

Shane Gillespie had a gilt-edged goal chance in the 15th minute after Alan Forde and McEntee carved the opening, but his rising shot skimmed the top of the crossbar and drew the sides level.

Barry was the man in form for St Pat's from frees and he pointed them in front again before Forde sent over from play in the 24th minute.

St Pat's enjoyed plenty of possession during that period, but failed to make it count on the scoreboard and Daniel Flynn reduced the deficit to the minimum.

St Pat's countered swiftly with Barry sending them into the interval with a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage.

Forde was the driving force for St Pat's after the resumption and he drove his side further ahead only 20 seconds after the the action resumed.

While St Mary's looked like a capable team, they relied too much on Hurley for scores. He claimed six points, five frees and a '45' and he duly cancelled Forde's effort a minute later.

Forde surged through the centre of the Edenderry defence again, but over-hit his pass which rolled wide before Hurley's pointed free left the minimum in in it again.

Under-pressure St Pat's had a lucky escape when Sean Doyle's fisted effort came back off the crossbar, but in a quick counter attack a fine drive from Ciaran Fitzsimons was saved by Edenderry goalkeeper Shane Geoghegan.

That gave St Pat's a boost and a McEntee effort was blocked by full-back Derek Kelly before Hurley launched a solo raid for Edenderry, but Ciaran Flynn saved well.

Inevitably, Hurley drew the sides level from a '45' at the end of the third-quarter.

That equaliser arrived after a period of intense pressure, but Forde ignited a St Pat's revival with a superb point.

The goal that proved crucial arrived in the 18th minute. Ross finished to the net after Noonan and McEntee combined to make the opening. The goalscorer added a point almost immediately for a five-point advantage (1-10 to 0-8).

Sensing victory, St Pat's upped the tempo again and while St Mary's battled with admirable determination, a recovery was beyond them

One last throw of the dice saw the introduction of Kildare minor footballer Paul Cribbin who missed the first game due to an ankle injury.

Apparently, Cribbin will be on his way to Aussie Rules football later this year, but on Saturday he was unable to engineer a Houdini-like recovery for his side..

McEntee's late goal was an extra bonus for St Pat's who can now harbour realistic chances of a provincial title.

St Patrick's CS Navan - Ciaran Flynn (Seneschalstown); Ciaran McConnell (Bective), Conor Finnegan (Navan O'Mahonys), Brian Dillon ((Navan O'Mahonys); Niall Groome (Seneschalstown 0-1), Darragh Maguire (Navan O'Mahonys), Paddy Fox (Skryne); Conor Sheridan (Simonstown), Cormac Noonan (Seneschalstown); Ciaran Fitzsimons (Clann na nGael), Alan Forde (Navan O'Mahonys 0-4), Shane Barry (Simonstown 0-3 frees); Fiachra Ross (Syddan 1-2), Shane Gillespie (Navan O'Mahonys 0-3), Fiachra McEntee (Nobber 1-0). Subs - Colin Wickham (Simonstown) for Dillon seven minutes; Mark O'Brien (Bective) for Noonan 58m.

St Mary's, Edenderry - S Geoghegan; C Grehan, D Kelly, B Kenny; T Hickey, J Kavanagh, C McNamee; S Hurley (0-6 five frees, one '45'), P Farrell; P Foy (0-1), D Flynn (0-1), E Farrell; S Doyle, A Sullivan (0-1), S Cullen. Subs - D Grehan for Farrell 38 mins; L Pender (0-1) for McNamee 41m; C Hurley for Doyle 48m; E Holton for Kenny 50m; P Cribbin for Flynn 56m.

Referee - Sean Carroll (Westmeath).