St Pat's fall just short to champions after extra-time

St Patrick's Navan almost claimed a major scalp in the Leinster Schools 'A' quarter-final on Thursday

LEINSTER SCHOOLS ‘A’ QUARTER-FINAL (AET)

Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar 1-0-12

St Patrick’s Navan 0-2-10

TOM GANNON

St Patrick’s came up just short in their bid to dethrone the current Leinster Schools ‘A’ champions Colaiste Mhuire at the quarter-final stage in Dunganny on Thursday.

A superb third-quarter performance, which included a monster two-point free from Charlie Finnegan, saw St Patrick’s seize control, and with 10 minutes to go, the Navan side led by two. Colaiste Mhuire then hit three points in a row to lead with very little time left but in the 61st minute, Sean Smyth struck a lovely point to force extra time.

From the get-go, conditions were not ideal at Meath GAA HQ, but the going got very tough in extra-time. As cats and dogs poured down at Dunganny, scores were at a premium and Colaiste Mhuire’s appalling vista tally of 0-2 was enough to see them over the line.

Even with the wind advantage in the first-half, it took some time for St Patrick’s to settle. Colaiste Mhuire seized momentum early were full value for their 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 8 minutes. Liam Devine got rid of St Patrick’s duck egg before Nathan Reilly quickly followed up with a free.

A lovely Colaiste Mhuire move that had some nice link-up play between Will Scahill and Stephen McWade was finished off by Scahill before Reilly followed up with his second-free.

The St Patrick’s ultras who were situated in between the two dugouts really found their voice when Stephen Cahill split the posts with a fantastic strike for a two-pointer. Colaiste Mhuire responded almost immediately, though when Kian Loughlin set up McWade for a goal. After 20 minutes, Colaiste Mhuire led 1-5 to 0-5.

Smyth traded points with McWade before a well-worked St Patrick’s move was finished off by Cahill just before the interval. Colaiste Mhuire were in a commanding position at half-time they led by 1-6 to 0-7 and they had a strong wind advantage to aide them in the second-half.

Even though the Mullingar side opened the scoring in the second-half, St Patrick’s battled really well as the weather worsened, Enda Monaghan’s side thrived. A massive Charlie Finnegan two-point free into the wind inspired St Patrick's. Conall O’Sullivan followed up with a nice score before Cahill edged St Patrick’s ahead with a fisted point.

With 10 minutes remaining, Reilly put St Patrick’s two points to the good and after being second best for the majority of the contest, St Patrick’s had battled their way back into a great position. Colaiste Mhuire were now the ones chasing but they very quickly drew level with points from Padraig Monaghan and Michael Moloney. Michael Weir thought he had won it for the Westmeath outfit when he scored in the 58th minute before Smyth came to St Patrick’s rescue with a late equaliser.

Despite a huge effort from St Patrick’s, extra-time points from Monaghan and McWade was enough to secure Colaiste Mhuire a spot in the semi-final. Reilly’s late minor proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Brian O’Connor’s full-time whistle sounded soon after.

Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar - Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Michael Weir (0-1), Sean Byrne; Eoin Donohue, Michael Moloney (0-2), Ty Masterson; Criostior Ormsby, Rory O’Brien (0-1); Eoin Meehan, Paul Keating, Stephen McWade (1-4 two frees); Will Scahill (0-3), Conor Cleary, Kian Loughlin. Subs: Aaron Connaire, Padraig Monaghan (0-2), Sean Hayes.

St Patrick’s Navan - Charlie Finnegan (0-2 one two-point free) (Seneschalstown); Tadgh Foley (Trim), Billy Bermingham (Ballivor), Conor Reuter (Skryne); Cormac Smith (Clann na nGael), Conall O’Sullivan (0-1) (St Michael’s), Max Condon (Simonstown); Oran Meade (Simonstown), Sean Smyth (0-2) (Skryne); Will Byrne (Simonstown), Charlie Twomey (Gaeil Colmcille), Liam Devine (0-1) (Gaeil Colmcille); James Donnelly (Bective), Stephen Cahill (0-4 one two-point) (Dunsany), Nathan Reilly (0-4 two frees) (Simonstown). Subs: Alex O’Neill (Slane), Adam McEvoy( Navan O’Mahony’s), C J Lynch (St Michael’s), Harry Butler (Gaeil Colmcille), D J O’Reilly (Skryne), Charles McCarthy (Seneschalstown), Bobby Gaffney (Navan O’Mahony’s), Jack Byrne (Gaeil Colmcille), Luke Casey (Navan O’Mahony’s), Niall Smith (Skryne), Darragh Wright (Clann na nGael), Ferdia Gibney (Carnaross), Harry Smith (Bective), Colm McDonnell (Seneschalstown), Sean Horan (Dunsany).

Referee - Brian O’Connor (Dublin).