Late revival from Meath Schools sees them clinch Leinster title

The Meath Combined Schools side defeated Maynooth ED Campus in the Leinster PPS 'A' Group Teams final

Meath Schools 2-10

Maynooth ED Campus 1-12

Meath Schools snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Maynooth ED Campus to claim the Leinster PPS ‘A’ Group Teams final in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday and book their spot in the quarter-final of the Provincial PPS ‘A’ Senior competition, otherwise known as the Bosco Cup.

Kevin Reilly’s side trailed by five points with five minutes left before they hit 1-3 without response, which included a goal from Mylo Hussey and a fantastic match-winning point from Pat Crawley, to seal a narrow victory.

Castletown’s Darragh Weldon was absolutely fantastic throughout. He and his fellow full-forward line colleagues, Crawley and Jake Madden, accounted for 1-9 of Meath School’s tally. The midfield pairing of Cathal Barron and David Daly won plenty of ball in the middle of the park, while just behind them captain Lewis Cassidy pulled the strings at centre back.

The Meath outfit got off to a perfect start when Jake Madden opened the scoring within the first minute before Shayne Brady followed up with a well-struck ‘45’. Maynooth then hit a brace of points through half-backs Aaron Larkin and Sam Shiels. After an uneventful first-quarter the sides remained level with 0-2 each.

Paddy Ryan and Madden traded frees before a well-worked move led to a major for Meath Schools. Some good link-up play between Sean McKeown and Aidan Roche led to the ball being fed to Weldon and he jinked past a couple of defenders before he finished to the bottom left corner.

Madden scored his third point before Finn Heslin responded for Maynooth. At half-time, Meath Schools led 1-4 to 0-4. The Kildare outfit came out with intent after the restart and between the 30th and 40th minute outscored Meath Schools by 1-6 to 0-1.

Meath’s only score during that tough period came from the boot of Darragh Weldon as a goal from Larkin and a well struck two-pointer from Ryan helped Maynooth garner a 1-10 to 1-5 advantage. Points from Crawley and Weldon were cancelled out by scores courtesy of Ciaran Dunne and Ryan.

With five minutes left, Maynooth still held a considerable five-point advantage. Darragh Weldon slotted over a nice free from the left-hand side before Meath Schools were handed a massive lifeline when Hussey managed to find the back of the net after a patient build-up.

In the 61st minute, Madden drew the sides level and the contest looked destined for extra-time. Maynooth went on the attack once more but the Meath schools did well to overturn possession and counter. When Pat Crawley struck from the right-hand side at the hospital end of Pairc Tailteann, his loud cheer let the supporters at Pairc Tailteann know that the ball was sailing between the posts. That score handed the Royals a two-point advantage. Soon after, Brian O’Connor’s final whistle confirmed a fantastic comeback for Reilly’s young guns.

Meath Schools - Shayne Brady (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) (0-1 one ‘45’); Shane Callaghan (Gaeil Colmcille), Thomas Sheridan (Oldcastle), Robbie Johnson (Dunsany); Evan Demange (Drumbaragh Emmets), Lewis Cassidy (Na Fianna), Sean McKeown (Castletown); Cathal Barron (Dunderry), David Daly (Moynalty); Adam Ducie (Ratoath), Aidan Roche (Kilmainhamwood), Daithi Wade (St Colmcille’s); Jake Madden (Drumbaragh Emmets) (0-4 one free), Darragh Weldon (Castletown) (1-3), Pat Crawley (Oldcastle) (0-2). Subs - Evan O’Connor (Dunshaughlin) for Daly 37m, Callum Buckley (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Wade 46m, Mylo Hussey (1-0) (Curragha) for Roche 50m, Charlie Lynch (Ballinlough) for Barron 55m, Adam O’Brien (Drumbaragh Emmets) for McKeown.

Maynooth ED Campus - Diarmuid Flynn; Sean Miley, Harry Egan, Niko Jdanov; Eoin Milles, Aaron Larkin (1-1), Sam Shiels (0-1); Darragh Devine (0-2); Evan Mc Auley; Ciaran Dunne (0-2), Tom Moriart, Hugh Dowling; Paddy Ryan (0-4 one free, one two-point), Cillian Madden, Finn Heslin (0-2). Subs - Sean McSweeney for Devine 41m, Glen O’Brien for Shiels 43m.

Referee - Brian O’Connor (Dublin)