Colleges: North Leinster title Rathcairn / St Fintina's
January 28, 2012
Rathcairn / Fintina's Dara McGrianna moves in to block Athboy's Caoimhin Griffin's shot during the North Leinster Senior D Colleges final at Dunganny. TO VIEW A SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS GAME CLICK HERE
Athboy Community School 2-6
Athboy made all the early running and were two points up after ten minutes courtesy of Brendan Roe and Aaron Rogers. Indeed the community school could have been further ahead but for some very wayward shooting. Fintina's got their first score of the game when Ciaran O'Rourke shot over and the game was level shortly after courtesy of a Ryan Moore pointed free. Moore put his side ahead for the first time before Athboy's Caoimhin Griffin found the net and a minute later centre foward Darragh Griffin had his team's second goal to put Athboy ahead 2-2 to 0-3. Just before the break Rathcairn / Fintina's got a crucial goal when Ronan McDonagh sailed through the Athboy defence to leave the half time score 2-2 to 1-3.
Athboy had to wait till the 15th minute for their opening score of the second half. In those opening fifteen minutes Fintina's pushed ahead by three points. Ryan Moore goaled within a minute of the restart. Further points from Moore and Ciaran O'Rourke put them into a very comfortable position. But Athboy fought back and totally dominated the game for the remaining ten minutes. Three pointed frees from full foward Caoimhin Griffin left the teams level 2-5 each and extra time was required.
Longwood made all the running in extra time. Athboy failed to score in the opening half while Fintina's had points from Sean Coloe and Moore. In between those scores Athboy keeper Aaron Ryan produced a brilliant save to deny Nathan O'Neill a certain goal.
Griffin gave Athboy some hope at the beginning of the second period but that proved to be their only score in extra time and points from Sean Dalton and Moore again made sure the title was heading to Rathcairn / Fintina's
After the game Tom O'Donnell presented the North Leinster Senior B Colleges shield to Rathcairn Fintina's captain Albin Morkowski.
CP Rathcairn / St Fintina's: Evan Mullally, Darren Ryan, Andy Lee, Vincent O'Brien, Nathan O'Neill, Albin Morkowski, Dara McGrianna, Conor Keenan, Ciaran O'Rourke (0-2), Adam Dowdall, Ronan McDonagh (1-0), Jake Byrne, Ryan Moore ( 1-5), Sean Coloe (0-1), Sean Dalton (0-1).
Athboy CS: Aaron Ryan, Dean McGourty, Mark Chesser, Conor Dunne, David Conneely, Alan Garry, Shaun Smith, Senan Kiernan, Anthony Swaine, Aaron Rogers (0-1), Darragh Griffin (1-0), John Murray, Luke Swaine, Caoimhin Griffin (1-4), Brendan Roe (0-1).
Referee Patrick Nelis Meath Tweet
