Late Gannon goal edges out Mullingar Community College in Leinster

Gerry Buckley reportsMullingar Community College were somewhat unlucky not to at least bring a wonderful game to extra-time in Springfield last Wednesday morning (November 24th), but the combined forces of St. Fintina's, Longwood and Coláiste Pobail, Rathcairn edged out the home team courtesy of a late goal from Adam Gannon, to send the Meath combination through to the semi-final of the North Leinster colleges senior football ‘D' championship.Conditions were ideal for football at the well-presented Mullingar Shamrocks' pitch and two fine sides produced a top-class game, with end-to-end football and some fine scores, and never a hint of rancour. While the visitors had more of the play, particularly in the second moiety, some outstanding defending from the Mullingar men kept out a number of goal opportunities. However, Gannon's late strike, ironically rolled to the net after several of his colleagues had been found wanting when trying to blast the ball home, edged the winners through.Mullingar CC raced into an early lead, courtesy of well-taken points from Daniel Crowley and Patrick Dinnegan. When the latter player struck for a great goal under pressure in the ninth minute, it looked good for the men in the home club's green and white-hooped colours. However, the winners (featuring 12 players from the Longwood school and three from Rathcairn) settled well and a point apiece from Coran Byrne, Adam Gannon and Adrian Boland (a free from their most consistent threat in attack) reduced the deficit to two points by the midpoint of the first moiety. In the 16th minute, Gareth Dempsey rounded off a flowing Mullingar move with a delightful point.Seven scoreless minutes ensued, before three rapid-fire points from the Meath lads tied up the scoring. Sandwiched between a brace of points from Adrian Boland, lively midfielder Coran Byrne licked a fine individual score. In the time remaining in the first half, the sides swapped points - Alan Casey for Mullingar and Adrian Boland for Longwood/Rathcairn being the young men on target.In the very last action of the first half, Blane Moloney almost slid in for a goal for the visitors, but the sides were deservedly level at the break on a scoreline of: St. Fintina's, Longwood/Coláiste Pobail, Rathcairn 0-7 Mullingar Community College 1-4.The tit-for-tat scoring continued throughout most of the second half. The sides traded early points via Alan Geraghty (a fine score from 35 metres) and Adrian Boland (a terrific solo effort in the next passage of play).The winners then had a ‘goal' disallowed as the ball had gone wide prior to being intuitively volleyed to the net by Conor Keenan. At this stage, the Meath lads went all out in search of a goal but they were consistently foiled by several excellent blocks from Mullingar defenders, Stephen Riggs in particular.Longwood/Rathcairn went ahead for the first time in the 38th minute when Coran Byrne pointed a free from his hands from 30 metres but, true to form, the sides were soon level via Dean Moran, albeit the losers were unlucky not to have been penalised moments earlier for what looked like a clear foul on a red and white-clad player. More pressure from the winners failed to yield a score until wing back Nathan MacGrianna popped up in attack to fire over a lovely point at the end of a patient move.With ten minutes remaining, Alan Casey equalised with a neat point from 20 metres.A quick free from Coran Byrne teed up his fellow midfielder Jason Dowdall for his first score in the 53rd minute, but a composed score from Patrick Dinnegan soon tied up the scores yet again.The winners' goalkeeper Luke Boylan pulled off a great save from Dean Moran and a fisted effort for a goal from Patrick Dinnegan went wide of the target as the time ticked away.Alan Casey completed his hat-trick of points in the 58th minute to edge Mullingar CC into the lead.However, the Meath lads struck for the all-important goal in the last minute of normal time, Nathan MacGrianna picking out Adam Gannon whose low shot squirmed to the net.In the first minute of added-time, Adrian Boland fittingly kicked an insurance score and, despite almost three more minutes being played, the home side was unable to muster another score. Indeed, Longwood/Rathcairn came closest to scoring, but Lee Hyland's free came back off the woodwork in the last meaningful action of a thoroughly enjoyable contest.St. Fintina's/Coláiste Pobail: Luke Boylan; Dean Weldon, Cormac Fitzsimons, Alvin Morkiowski; Nathan MacGrianna (0-1), Richie Massey, Josh Ryan; Jason Dowdall (0-1), Coran Byrne (0-3, 0-1 from a free); Blane Moloney, Adrian Boland (0-6, 0-1 from a free), Ciarán Ó hAilpín; Lee Hyland, Conor Keenan, Adam Gannon (1-1).Mullingar Community College: Conor Craig; Stephen Riggs, Paul Reid, Ross Langley; David Newman, Joseph Dugdale, David Coyne; Alan Geraghty (0-1), Tony Doran; Patrick Dinnegan (1-2), Gareth Dempsey (0-1), Daniel Crowley (0-1); Ciaran McCabe, Alan Casey (0-3), Dean Moran (0-1). Subs: Liam McCarthy (for Reid, inj, 18 mins), Darren Aughey (for Langley, inj, 36 mins).Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).