Castlepollard/Killucan lose out in extra-time thriller

Castlepollard Community College and Columba College, Killucan narrowly failed to advance in the North Leinster Schools senior football "D" championship at the Community College"s grounds in Castlepollard, when they were outscored in extra-time by Ard Scoil Phadraig, Granard.The losers could easily have won this game in normal time and will regret a couple of late, late misses which would have seen them progress to the semi-final.As it transpired, the winners made more of their chances in two ten-minute periods of extra-time, during which the combined Westmeath schools had no "rub of the relic".On a lovely afternoon for football, despite a heavy pitch from a recent spell of intense activity, the two teams served up a pulsating encounter, with very little separating them all through. After spurning some early opportunities, the home side went in front in the fifth minute when Darren Flynn"s "45" was added to by the fist of Paul Poynton, who guided the ball to the back of the net. At the other end, Hugh Monks managed to clear the ball off his own goalline, before Sean Kenny increased his side"s lead after receiving the ball from Conor Smith"s poorly-struck free. However, by the midpoint of the first half, Granard were level, courtesy of a pointed free by impressive full forward, Sean Berry and a very well-taken goal from Ian Small, following great approach play by Joe Dempsey.After a high ball goalwards from Sean Kenny almost yielded another goal for Castlepollard/Killucan, they regained the lead with a converted free by Stephen Boylan. It wasn"t long before the visitors grabbed their second goal, Sean Berry"s shot deceiving Sean Keane for a soft score. Despite lots of goalmouth action in the remainder of the first moiety, neither side managed to raise a flag and the half-time score read: Ard Scoil Phadraig 2-1, Castlepollard Community College/Columba College 1-2.The winners had the better of the opening exchanges in the second half but it was the home team who scored first, substitute Dean McFeely"s dipping shot being touched over the crossbar by Kevin Murphy. A great individual point from Joe Dempsey put Granard two points to the good in the tenth minute and the same player soon added another point from a 30-metre free. Between the 15th and 22nd minutes, three unanswered points for Castlepollard/Killucan levelled the contest again, via Paddy Cheevers (two) and Dean McFeely (a free). There was no shortage of drama in the closing minutes of normal time. In the 28th minute, Andy Kelly fisted Joe Dempsey"s cross to the net for Granard but, following a vital double-save from Sean Keane, a counterattack by the home side yielded an opportunist equalising goal for Darren Flynn. Deep into added-time, Stephen Boylan missed two glorious chances to win the game for Castlepollard/Killucan, but extra-time was needed when the score after 60 minutes read: Ard Scoil Phadraig 3-3, Castlepollard Community College/Columba College 2-6.Again, there was nothing to choose between two evenly-matched teams in the first period of extra-time. A second-minute point from Kevin Reilly preceded a let-off for his Granard side, with their opponents unsuccessfully claiming a goal when Vincent Connolly"s shot was unconvincingly saved by Kevin Murphy. A close-range point from Darren Flynn left the teams all-square and in the remaining action of the half, the respective number 11s swapped points - Joe Dempsey (Granard) and Vincent Connolly (Castlepollard/Killucan). At the break the scores were tied: Ard Scoil Phadraig 3-5, Castlepollard Community College/Columba College 2-8.Eventually, there was some daylight created between the teams in the second period of extra-time, during which the winners added 1-3 without reply. However, it could have been all very different if Paul Poynton"s fifth-minute shot had gone under the crossbar, rather than thundering off it. Points from Sean Berry (two - the second from a free) and Brian McLoughlin put Ard Scoil Phadraig a goal in front as the clock ticked down and, in the final passage of play, the Longford school wrapped up their hard-earned win when Andy Kelly worked his way along the endline and he picked out Bilal Moran, whose looped shot hit the back of the net.Ard Scoil Phadraig, Granard: Kevin Murphy; James Rogers, Adrian McLoughlin, Nathan Cassidy; Mickey McHugh, James McHugh, Enda Rabbitte; BrianMcLoughlin (0-1), Darren Gallagher; Andy Kelly (1-0), Joe Dempsey (0-3, 0-1 from a free), Kevin Reilly (0-1); Colin Sheridan, Sean Berry (1-3, 0-2 from frees), Ian Small (1-0). Subs: Bilal Moran (1-0) (for Small, inj, 13mins), Anthony McBreen (for Sheridan, 39 mins).Castlepollard Community College/Columba College, Killucan: Sean Keane; Philip Reilly, Philip Hall, Hugh Monks; Lawrence Nea, Tony O"Reilly, Derek Healy; Alan McGrath, Darren Flynn (1-1); Stephen Boylan (0-1, from a free), Vincent Connolly (0-1), Paul Poynton (1-0); Alan Fitzsimons, Sean Kenny (0-1), Conor Smith. Subs: Thomas Doyle (for Smith, 30 mins), Dean McFeely (0-2, 0-1 from a free) (for Fitzsimons, half-time), Paddy Cheevers (0-2) (for Flynn, 39 mins), Darren Flynn (for McFeely, 59 mins), Conor Smith (for Kenny, 66 mins), Dean McFeely (for Doyle, 77 mins), Gary Caffrey (for Flynn, 78 mins).Referee: Jimmy Weldon (Westmeath).