Late goal sinks Coláiste Mhuire in entertaining quarter-final

Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Hurling ‘B’ Quarter-Final: St Fintan’s High School, Sutton 2-14, Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar 1-12

The senior hurlers from Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar exited the Leinster ‘B’ championship on the all-weather pitch at Gleneaston in Leixlip on Tuesday morning, falling just short against a slightly better-balanced outfit from St Fintan’s High School, Sutton, writes Gerry Buckley.

A tendency to drop balls short proved costly for the boys in green, while their failure to register even a single score in the final quarter, when still very much in contention, was a big disappointment to their large band of supporters – pupils, parents and teachers – in cold but pleasant conditions.

Emmet Mythen scored a terrific angled point to nudge the Dubliners ahead after a mere 35 seconds. After an exchange of wides, quickfire points from Dan Broderick (a great free) and Paddy Doyle (open play) extended St Fintan’s lead to three points with seven minutes elapsed.

David Williams and Broderick twice traded points from frees of varying difficult before three unanswered points from Williams - the first seemed like an impossible angle in open play, and a brace of frees (the second of which was a controversial award) - left the sides tied at 0-5 apiece at the first water break.

Doyle (a fabulous point under pressure) and Williams (another tricky free) swapped points as the losers continued to spurn some half-chances by under-hitting the sliotar. Injuries to a player on either side meant a lengthy period of added-time.

Mythen and Finn Alexander scored great points for the lads in the red and yellow jerseys, but an opportunist goal from Senan O’Driscoll (availing of hesitancy by Ryan Coyne) edged Coláiste Mhuire in front.

A rapid-fire brace from Joe Sheppard regained the lead for the Metropolitans. Williams levelled from a free, but St Fintan’s got a boost on the stroke of half-time when an innocuous shot from Conor White found the net, putting them ahead by 1-10 to 1-7 at the interval.

Sub Finn McDonald pointed from an acute angle a mere 35 seconds after play resumed, and a great score from Doyle put St Fintan’s five points clear in the 36th minute.

However, the young men under the tutelage of Micheál Lawler and Kieran Kelly played some outstanding hurling in the latter stages of the third quarter, scoring five points without reply therein. The scores came courtesy of Josh Murtagh (two well-taken scores), Williams (two frees), and Warric Kirby (a neat finish).

Disaster struck, however, when Alexander goaled against the run of play seconds before the second water break, to put the winners a goal to the good (2-12 to 1-12).

When sub Jack Duncan teed up Williams in the 51st minute, the promising Lough Lene Gaels lad seemed sure to find the net, but Coyne pulled off a brave – and ultimately decisive – save. Brian Dunne (a great strike) and sub Paddy McKeon (a routine free in the first minute of injury-time) gave St Fintan’s some breathing space.

A couple of efforts by Colaiste Mhuire to manufacture a goal were thwarted by a resilient winning rearguard, and it is the Sutton boys who deservedly advance to the penultimate round.

Scorers – St Fintan’s: F Alexander 1-1, C White 1-0, D Broderick (frees) and P Doyle 0-3 each, E Mythen and J Sheppard 0-2 each, B Dunne, F McDonald and P McKeon (free) 0-1 each. Coláiste Mhuire: D Williams 0-9 (8f), S O’Driscoll 1-0, J Murtagh 0-2, W Kirby 0-1.

St Fintan’s High School, Sutton: Ryan Coyne; James Gleeson, Ciaran Harnett, Cillian Hayes; Ruairi McDonald, Seán Gallagher, Robert Reidy; Finn Alexander, Brian Dunne; Jack Gilroy, Paddy Doyle, Conor White; Emmet Mythen, Dan Broderick, Joe Sheppard. Subs used: Finn McDonald for Gilroy (inj., 22), Evan O’Brien for Mythen (50), Alex Dycher for Broderick (52), Paddy McKeon for White (56).

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Alex Little; Ciaran Egerton, Cathal Bawle, Oisín Loughlin; Danny McCartan, Sean Leech, Shane Doran; Rian Holding, Ryan Boyne; Jack Geoghegan, David Williams, Josh Murtagh; Senan O’Driscoll, Warric Kirby, David Aughey. Subs used: Jack Duncan for Aughey (inj., 27), Oisín Kelly for Boyne (37), Robbie Cleary for O’Driscoll (42).

Ref: Bernard Heaney (Westmeath).