Updated: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 4:50pm

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Leinster title secured on the rebound

by Jimmy Geoghegan

St Patrick's CS, Navan 1-12, Colaiste Eoin, Stillorgan 2-8

Fiachra Ross is helped to the ground by Colaiste Eoin defender Stiofan O Seasnain in the dying seconds at Parnell Park on Sunday which prompted referee Derek Fahy to award a penalty.

Those who have followed St Pat's this year can hardly quibble about the level of entertainment they have received for the money they have paid out so far.

In the drawn Leinster Colleges' SFC semi-final with St Mary's, Edenderry, St Pat's produced a dramatic equalising goal to rescue them from defeat in what proved to be an enthralling encounter.

They did it again at Parnell Park on Sunday conjuring up a last-gasp goal from Conor Sheridan that helped them dig out a victory and claim another Leinster Colleges SFC title.

Once again this was heart-stopping, white-knuckle stuff with the last few minutes underlining just how dramatic Gaelic football can be with the final outcome hanging tantalisingly in the balance even after Sheridan's goal. When it comes to St Pat's excitement is guaranteed - and then some.

Urged on by their noisy Kop on the terrace opposite the main stand, Colaiste Eoin had turned around a 0-2 to 0-8 deficit to edge one point in front with four minutes remaining with a neatly taken goal from Marc Schutte.

Then on the stroke of full-time St Pat's did the business, masterminding a fine goal that originated with their goalkeeper Ciaran Flynn. He kick-started a move that traversed the length of the pitch.

It involved Ciaran McConnell, Darragh Maguire, Sheridan, Cormac Noonan and ended with Fiachra Ross winning the ball close to goals. He powered his way forward and was clearly fouled as he sought to side-step an opponent. It was a nailed-on penalty.

Amid the tension Sheridan stepped up to take the kick and sought to place it, but Colaiste Eoin goalkeeper Daniel O Caoimh proved equal to it and got a block in. What he could not do was divert it away. Instead the ball bounced back into the path of Sheridan and at the second time of asking the big midfielder made no mistake.

Colaiste Eoin had time to engineer one last move and St Pat's were fortunate that their pacy forward Maitas MacDonncha blasted over the bar instead of under it as he had an excellent goal chance. Maybe the tension got to him. Whatever the reason St Pat's survived to ensure their place in yet another All-Ireland semi-final.

At the final whistle Colaiste Eoin supporters grumbled about the referee and his decisions. The match official was an easy target, he didn't miss good chances as Colaiste Eoin did towards the end, he didn't concede the late, certain penalty that eventually gave St Pat's victory.

The spirit of the St Pat's players cannot be underestimated as they struggled for long spells of the second-half to stitch together a decent attack as most of their time was spent defending.

Yet they soaked up a huge amount of pressure before hitting back to get the last-gasp goal and send them on their way to another provincial title. Their performance was full of spirit and self-belief and in the end they got their just reward for a big work ethic.

It was hardly surprising that Ross played such a crucial role in carving out the St Pat's goal. He showed in the opening stages that he was up for the game slotting over four superbly-taken points with all the nonchalance of player on form.

The first-quarter was the best spell of the game for St Pat's and during the opening few minutes Shane Gillespie and Alan Forde had efforts rebound off the woodwork as the Meath side punctured holes in the opposition backline.

It took Colaiste Eoin 16 minutes to get their opening point when Pol O Fogartaigh broke free to split the posts. Yet with Sheridan and Shane Barry winning plenty of ball around midfield the Meath side created a series of opportunities.

Neatly-taken points from Fiachra McEntee, Forde. Maguire and Paddy Fox added to the four from Ross made up the Navan school's opening half account.

"With that wind St Pat's will need a six or seven-point cushion," was the view of one observer towards the end of the first-half - that's exactly what they had. Yet Colaiste Eoin came out after the break and indicated that it was going to be an arduous second-half for St Pat's.

Colaiste Eoin surged forward and almost got a goal when a dipping shot from Schutte looked to be on the way to the St Pat's net until Colin Wickham diverted the ball wide. It was one of those match-turning moments and Wickham's sharpness certainly proved crucial in the end.

Forde, Gillespie and McEntee managed to dig out points for St Pat's in the second-half, but they all came from breakaway moves. On 40 minutes Colaiste Eoin's Alex O Maoilmhiaigh fired a powerful shot to the net.

Gradually the Dublin side, who defeated St Pat's to take their only Leinster title back in the late 1990s, reduced the deficit and Schutte's goal with four minutes left put them one point ahead and looking good.

Schutte and team-mate Donal Sutcliffe missed good chances before St Pat's put together the enterprising moved that ended with Sheridan's match-saving goal.

It was hugely entertaining stuff and St Pat's now have a chance to continue on their journey. Their supporters can look forward to plenty more drama.

St Patrick's CS - C Flynn; C Wickham, C McConnell, C Finnegan; N Groome, D Maguire (0-1), C Noonan; C Sheridan (1-0), S Barry; C Fitzsimons, A Forde (0-2), P Fox (0-1); F Ross (0-4), S Gillespie (0-2), F McEntee (0-2).

Colaiste Eoin - D O Caoimh; S O Seasnain, E O Loinsigh, D O hAodha; G O Fogartaigh, A O Murchu (0-1), J MacCionnaith; J MacSuibhne, D Sutcliffe (0-2); M Schutte, P O Dalaigh, C MacGearailt; B O Murchu, S MacCraithe, P O Fogartaigh. Subs - C MacBineid for O Seasnain, M MacDonncha for MacGearailt, A O Maoilmhiaigh for O Fogartaigh, M O Duibhir for O Dalaigh, O Dalaigh for O Murchu.

Referee - Derek Fahy (Longford).