First half goals guide St. Joseph"s to league success

There was disappointment for defending champions Athlone Community College as their quest to retain the North Leinster Schools Senior Football "A" League title came unstuck against a hugely impressive St Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge, at Páirc Chiaráin last Thursday afternoon.Hopes had been high within Athlone CC that their young charges had the prowess and scoring power to retain the crown claimed twelve months earlier thanks to a memorable victory over Gormanston of Meath in the 2007 decider. However, on a nicely dry but cutting-cold day at Athlone, St Joseph"s (with former Westmeath and Longford manager Luke Dempsey in their corner alongside manager Cormac Davey), had too much firepower for the Athlone outfit, and looked quicker, sharper and far more clinical in front of the posts than their opponents on this occasion.In fairness to Athlone CC, their semi-final against a tough St Pat"s, Navan side had gone to a replay and was only played last Monday (three days prior to the final), giving the local side little time to rest aching muscles and tired limbs ahead of the final.St Joseph"s, on the other hand, comfortably strolled to an eleven-point win over Moate Community School in their semi-final played at Mount Temple last Thursday week; a scenario which tellingly gave the Rochfortbridge team an extra four days to rest and prepare for the decider in Athlone.Despite this apparent advantage, it would be disgracefully unfair to attribute St Joseph"s win solely to their extra period of recovery, for some of their play - particularly from their midfield and forward line - was right out of the top drawer and deserves to be lauded in the shape of high praise and adulation.Athlone will look back to their inability to score from open play as one of the main reasons behind the defeat, with all five of their scores coming from frees.Two clinically taken goals - including one after only 12 minutes of the first half - provided the foundation for what proved in the end a relatively scare-free victory for the men from the "Bridge.St Joseph"s came to Athlone looking for a first title win at this level since Luke Dempsey guided them over the line in 2002 and left with a thoroughly deserved success, which owes much to the dedication and committed work of manager, former Kildare and Westmeath player, Cormac Davey.In the other dug-out, Chris Forde and Niall Finneran will have been dreadfully disappointed that their heroic troops never really got going on the day and struggled to stay with their opponents when faced with a strong wind disadvantage in the opening half.St Joseph"s had built up a seven-point lead by the interval and despite going close to registering goals during certain periods of sustained second-half pressure, Athlone could have no qualms about their defeat come the final whistle.Athlone opted to make just a single change from the team which started the replay against St Pat"s, Navan, three days earlier, with Garrycastle"s Ian Turley coming in for Padraic Cunningham.Their opponents also made one switch to the side which disposed of Moate CS, as Johnny Bricklands missed out and Cian Flynn was called upon.St Joseph"s, with a fairly hefty wind behind them, came out strongly from the first whistle but captain Wayne Fox was marginally off target with an opening minute attempt at goal. However, his team broke the deadlock within seconds, as the extremely impressive Eoin Gorman sent a brilliant left foot effort between the posts.But Athlone initially responded well and drew level in the fifth minute thanks to Ian Coffey"s free after a foul on full-forward targetman Robert Kenny.Two minutes later, Ian Coffey had a chance to put Athlone in front after Paul Carey fouled Garvan Broughall, but this time Coffey"s free from a far more acute angle was fractionally wide.St Joseph"s Clive Kiernan was the first player booked as the game struggled to find its rhythm in the opening ten minutes or so. Frustratingly, it was a stop-start and free-laden affair until Eoin Gorman pointed in the ninth minute, setting the tone for a ten-minute spell in which St Joseph"s would take complete control.Eoin Gorman was involved again - along with Sean Deegan and Paul Carey - in carving out another scoring chance for St Joseph"s, but on this occasion Gorman"s shot drifted wide after he appeared to be shoved off balance whilst shooting.St Joseph"s would not be denied on twelve minutes. Jason Cully bobbed and weaved his way through the Athlone defence before hand-passing to the unmarked Paul Lewis, who steadied himself and slid the ball underneath on-rushing Athlone goalie David McHugh and into the back of the net.Seconds later - and as Athlone struggled to get out of their own half - St Joseph"s could have further increased the four-point margin but Eoin Gorman uncharacteristically shot wide with the goal at his mercy.Rochfortbridge"s fourth wide of the half arrived when Athlone full-back Ben Moran felled the lively Jason Cully but Clive Kiernan misjudged his kick. Ben Moran"s frustration soon got the better of him, as the Athlone defender was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball altercation with Wayne Fox, who was also booked for his part in the shenanigans.Just moments after Gorman set up Fox for a glorious point to stretch the lead to five, St Joseph"s found a crucial second goal in the 17th minute.The goal followed a superb period of play in which St Joseph"s kept possession neatly and often toyed with the overworked Athlone defence. Eventually, after some tidy hand-passing, the ball was worked to Paul Lewis in a goalscoring position. Lewis sensed a second goal for himself but his powerful strike was well blocked by Athlone defender Ben Moran. The loose ball made its way to Mark Conroy, though, and he surged past a couple of Athlone tackles before drilling the ball into the roof of the net.From the restart, Mark Conroy again gained possession for St Joseph"s and kicked another point for the now rampant away side, who led by eight points after less than 20 minutes.Athlone"s players weren"t yet resigned to defeat but it was always going to be difficult to pick themselves up from these hammer-blows following a tough encounter against St Pat"s three days earlier.Garvan Broughall"s 21st minute free gave them a mild boost but a major turning point came when St Joseph"s "keeper Paul Coates made a terrific save to deny Ian Coffey what seemed a certain goal.Another Broughall free brought Athlone to within seven points at the interval, but the size of the task ahead of them in the second half was quite enormous.Athlone experienced little luck either.They struck the woodwork twice in the second half and were also denied an early goal when Paul Coates did well to stop Broughall from fisting home from close range.Coffey"s 36th minute free went over the bar via the left post but the game was beginning the slip away from Athlone.On 43 minutes, Broughall"s free reduced the deficit to five points but Athlone didn"t seem to have the requisite energy levels to continue the comeback.Indeed, David McHugh was forced to keep Athlone in the match with a superb block to deny substitute Stephen Cooney from netting.St Joseph"s sped away from Athlone in the closing stages and it was no great surprise when they added three more points from Eoin Gorman, Jason Cully and Paul Lewis.SCORERS: St Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge; E. Gorman 0-3, P. Lewis 1-1 (1f), M. Conroy 1-1, W. Fox 0-1, J. Cully 0-1.Athlone CC; G. Broughall 0-3 (3f), I. Coffey 0-2 (2f).Athlone CC; David McHugh, Marcus Kelly, Ben Moran, Stephen McManus, James Shaughnessy, Eoghan Grennan, Declan Donohoe, Alan Fitzpatrick, Adam Ward, Sean Ryan, Garvan Broughall, Stephen Relihan, Ian Coffey, Robert Kenny, Ian Turley. Subs: Jason Merrigan for Ward (18 mins), Tom O"Halloran for Turley (28), Darren McCormack for Ryan (33), Sean Ryan for Relihan (48), Adam Ward for McCormack (51).St Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge; Paul Coates, Stephen Hannon, Mark Gorman, Eoin Rigney, Shane Brogan, Paul Carey, Sean Deegan, Cian Flynn, Paul Lewis, Clive Kiernan, Jason Cully, Eoin Gorman, Cormac Boyle, Wayne Fox, Mark Conroy. Subs: Cathal Reilly for Boyle (27 mins), Stephen Cooney for Carey (40), Donal Hickey for Reilly (59).Referee: Sean Carroll (The Downs).