Leinster Colleges SFC: Pat's see off challenge of Moate
January 31, 2010
Moate's David Kelleher and St Pat's Conor Finnegan contest the high ball during the Leinster Colleges SFC clash at Pairc Tailteann
Moate CS 0-9
Leinster Colleges SFC specialists of recent years, St Patrick's, Navan, are through to the last four in the province again following their quarter-final victory over their rivals from Westmeath at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday last.
Colm O'Rourke's side gave some truth to the old adage that a good start is half the battle when dashing into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead in the opening 10 minutes. Syddan lad Fiachra Ross netted the goal following a pass from wing back Niall Groome as the locals had much the better of the early exchanges.
That was after Enda Kincaid gave Moate the lead in the first minute. Soon after that Fiachra McEntee looked likely to finish to the net but James Egan kept his attempt out in a one-on-one with the 'keeper.
Two Shane Gillespie points edged Pat's ahead and the second of those could have been a goal. Ciaran Fitzsimons left the margin five points and the advantage was the same at the break when the board read 1-7 to 0-5.
Points from the Navan O'Mahonys pair of Gillespie (free) and Alan Forde stretched the margin to seven points before Moate's main scorer, Darren Scanlon, cut the deficit with a brace, from a free and play.
The difference could have been down to two points immediately after the restart but full forward Daniel Kelleher fired a low shot narrowly wide. After Ross left six points between the sides, Moate showed battling qualities to halve the deficit.
That rally came after being reduced to 14 players, centre forward Brian Finnerty being shown a straight red card for an over-eager challenge on an opponent. A point from play by Scanlon and two converted frees by midfielder Alan Stone left just three in it.
Pat's went nearly a quarter of a hour without a score in the second period but then they were favoured by the rub of the green for their second goal on 52 minutes when a sideline kick from the left floated untouched to the net.
That left it 2-9 to 0-9 and influential midfielder Barry added two points to put the seal on the success.
St Patrick's, Navan: C Flynn; C McConnell, C Finnegan, B Dillon; N Groome, D Maguire, C Wickham; S Barry (1-3, goal sideline, one point free), C Sheridan; C Fitzsimons (0-1), A Forde (0-1), P Fox; F Ross (1-2), S Gillespie (0-4, one free), F McEntee. Subs: L Burke for Wickham (43 mins), C Noonan for Fitzsimons (53 mins), M O'Brien for Fox (58 mins).
Moate CS: J Egan; C Kelly, C Connor, J Warburton; G Mullery, L Fitzpatrick, P Holloway; A Stone (0-3, three frees), D Minnock; D McCormack, B Finnerty, J Flattery; E Kincaid (0-1), D Kelleher, D Scanlon (0-5, three frees). Subs: O Fleming for Flattery (43 mins), J Maguire for McCormack (56 mins).
Referee: G McCormack (Dublin). Tweet
