Leech's goals suck the life from spirited opponents

St Patrick's NS, Edmonton 7-5 Holy Family 2-5

CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL HURLING DIVISION 3 FINAL

Showing greater flair in front of goal, St Patrick’s NS Edmonton enjoyed an impressive victory over Holy Family Primary School, Mullingar, in the Cumann na mBunscol Division 3 hurling decider at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, on Monday, May 22.

The victors swooped for five goals in the closing 15 minutes, ensuring a rather flattering margin of victory in a game that was much closer than the final scoreline suggests.

Conditions were pleasant and sunny on the opening day of the finals and, in front of an enthusiastic crowd, it was Holy Family who got the scoring underway when Oisín Kelly converted a free. Given that he scored 1-5, Kelly was very unfortunate to end up on the losing side. St Patrick’s Edmonton equalised a minute later when Jamie Leech converted a ’45 after Holy Family goalkeeper Sean Molloy had made a fine save. This was the first of a number of fine saves that Molloy made in goals.

St Patrick’s eventually found the net through Tom Leech after seven minutes.

Oisín Kelly pointed for Holy Family, but St Patrick’s replied with a goal from Tom Leech and then a converted free through Jamie Leech. Oisín Kelly almost got in for a goal but he was denied by a good save by St Patrick’s Senan Corroon. Kelly followed up with a point from a free and one from play, but St Patrick’s finished the half stronger and a point from play from Tom and Jamie Leech, as well as a converted 45’ by Jamie, left St Patrick’s Edmonton ahead by 2-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

Holy Family got a good start to the second half when Oisín Kelly fired to the net after good work by Darragh Daly. Kelly then scored a fine point from distance to leave just a goal between the sides, 1-5 to 2-5. However, it was St Patrick’s, with Tom Leech to the fore, who dominated thereafter. Cian Lawlor blasted in a goal from a rebound when Tom Leech’s initial shot was blocked by Sean Molloy. Jamie Leech blasted a free to the back of the net and this was quickly followed by a great goal by Pádraig Whyte, who fired to the net from a very tight angle.

St Patrick’s were relentless now and they scored a sixth goal when Tom Leech’s shot went all the way into the net from distance. To their great credit Holy Family, who are new to this level of Cumann na mBunscol hurling, never gave up and after great work, Darragh Daly fired in a goal. However, St Patrick’s Edmonton rounded off scoring, with player of the match Tom Leech getting the final goal of the game.

Scorers - St Patrick’s NS Edmonton: Tom Leech 4-1, Jamie Leech 1-4 (1-1 from frees, 0-2 from 45’s), Cian Lawlor 1-0, Pádraig Whyte 1-0. Holy Family PS: Oisín Kelly 1-5 (0-3 from frees), Darragh Daly 1-0.

St Patrick’s NS Edmonton: Senan Corroon, Niamh Brady, Seán Nea, Pauraic Casserly, Lucy Coleman, Jamie Leech, Saoirse Lawlor, Luka John Fitzsimons, Tom Leech, Cian Lawlor, Pádraig Whyte, Niamh Whyte, Amelie de Lacy, Erin Corroon.

Holy Family PS: Sean Molloy, Cian Traynor, Sean Dooley, Jamie Byrne, MJ Burke, Jonah Hassett, Oisín Kelly, Eoin Reddan, Darragh Daly, Pau Dooley, Evan Nohilly, Noah Smyth, Kian Newcombe, Donnacha Doyle, Tom Lynch, Dylan Hanly, Liam Duffy.

Referee: Jimbob Baker (Cullion).