Dramatic extra-time victory for spirited Mullingar side

Coláiste Mhuire 4-8, Knockbeg College 3-9

(After extra-time)

Mullingar's Coláiste Mhuire secured the Leinster second year 'A' football title with a wonderful victory over Carlow's Knockbeg College, at Manguard Park, Kildare on Wednesday afternoon. It took extra-time to eventually separate two strong sides and what the final lacked in terms of quality, it more than atoned for in drama.

Six points adrift at the end of the first period of extra-time, it looked extremely bleak for a profligate Mullingar side, but from somewhere they produced 2-1 in the second period to take the honours, showing remarkable resolve in the process. Full forward Conor Williams emerged as the hero with two opportunist goals in extra-time, with his side trailing, 2-6 to 3-9, at the end of the first period.

It completed a famous victory for Coláiste Mhuire in the prestigious Leinster Post Primary Schools Second Year 'A' Football competition. They had already won the North Leinster title and defeated the Dublin winners in the Leinster semi-final before finally overcoming a formidable Knockbeg College side.

It was 2-6 to 1-9 at the end of normal time and Coláiste Mhuire, who had led by 2-6 to 0-6 when the impressive Stephen McWade pointed in the 48th minute, finished the game with 13 players. Hugo Corroon picked up a black card and Zak Bates incurred a second yellow as a resurgent Knockbeg College outfit applied relentless pressure in the closing stages. A goal from Mikey Regan and points from Will McGrath and Finn Deering (free) set up extra-time.

Coláiste Mhuire managed just one score from play and trailed, 0-2 to 0-4, at the end of a first half dominated by poor decision making and inaccuracy. Amid dramatic exchanges, Williams and Corroon were both denied goals, while McWade's strong penalty claims fell on deaf ears.

McWade also saw his free come off the upright when going for a three-pointer after the interval and it wasn't until MJ Long scored a superb goal in the 40th minute that the Mullingar challenge gathered serious momentum: Corroon then pounced for an opportunist goal as they established what seemed a winning position.

However, it was then Knockbeg College's turn to dominate in a final that ebbed and flowed. They remained in the ascendancy during the opening extra-time exchanges against the 14 men of Mullingar, with goals from Cian O'Sullivan (penalty) and Cormac Murphy giving them a commanding lead. It looked all over at that stage, but Coláiste Mhuire refused to surrender.

The return of Coorron levelled it up numerically and somehow Coláiste Mhuire found some scoring form to turn this final on its head again. Afterwards, joint captains Cathal Keena and Tomás Brennan were presented with the Blackthorn Cup by Kevin Kehoe, who represented Leinster Council.

David Kiernan, Coláiste Mhuire manager, summed up an epic game, praising his side's terrific spirit.

"We thought we had it won (leading by 2-6 to 0-7), but they came back and we didn't help ourselves. But in extra-time we rallied again and again; we told them at half-time in extra-time - 'it's now or never, we need two goals' - and they scored 2-1. It's hard to fault them; no matter what went wrong, they corrected it and I'm very proud of them," he said.

Impossible angles

This was a final that provided a real roller-coaster of emotions and both sides enjoyed spells of dominance at different stages. Coláiste Mhuire had the first chance when Cian Matthews sent an inviting ball across the danger area for Conor Williams, whose shot was saved by Greg O'Shea in the Knockbeg goal.

O'Shea proved a competent 'keeper in the first half, making a good save to deny Hugo Corroon later on. Defences were generally on top and the game was seven minutes old before a fine point from Cian O'Sullivan (sideline kick). Coláiste Mhuire equalised when Cian Matthews slotted over a free following a foul on Conor Williams.

Inaccuracy in front of goal was proving a stumbling block for Coláiste Mhuire and often times players shot from impossible angles. The Mullingar side competed well and had a clear claim for a penalty on 17 minutes when Stephen McWade appeared to be tripped as he got his shot away, but play continued.

At the other end, an excellent point from Mikey Regan put the Carlow side ahead. Knockbeg College went two points clear courtesy of O'Sullivan's finish in the 25th minute, but prior to that Corroon was denied a goal following a lovely pass from McWade.

With scores at a premium, McWade started a move that involved Tom Weir and Williams and ended with Josh Mullaniff kicking a quality point. Matthews had a clear opening then, but his first-time shot for goal was overly ambitious and he had ample time to gather the ball: that was general trend as rash shooting hindered progress.

Before half-time, Knockbeg College went two points ahead again when Jack Anderson forced his way inside and set up Eoin Harris with a pass across goal: Harris duly shot over to leave it 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval

Having failed to fire on all cylinders, Coláiste Mhuire fell further adrift on the restart as Regan pointed when O'Sullivan's shot came down off the upright and Cormac Murphy fired over to make it 0-6 to 0-2. Having wasted chances, Coláiste Mhuire replied when Cian Matthews slotted over a free.

On 40 minutes came a crucial Mullingar score: from a McWade delivery, Williams knocked the ball out to MJ Long, who shot powerfully to the bottom corner from 20 metres.

Remarkably, a second goal quickly followed when McWade's free dropped short and O'Shea parried allowing Hugo Corroon pounce to find the net from close-range. Coláiste Mhuire now had a grip on the game at last and a Matthews delivery from a free was won by McWade, who shot over to put them four points ahead (2-4 to 0-6).

While O'Sullivan converted a free in response, Tomás Brennan set up McWade for a point, giving Coláiste Mhuire a five-point lead with 13 minutes remaining.

However, the drama was only beginning and despite an initial save from Ben Thornton, Regan followed up to find the net for the Carlow side. Midfielder Will McGrath added a point and it was 2-6 to 1-8. Corroon (black card) and Bates (second yellow) were both dismissed and with 13 men, Coláiste Mhuire were hanging on. A Finn Deering free late on was enough to set up extra-time and this incredible final continued.

Coláiste Mhuire had a great chance to take the lead in the second minute of extra-time when McWade’s shot came down off the upright, falling invitingly for Long, whose shot from close-range could only find the side-netting.

Knockbeg then took a grip as Mikey Regan earned a penalty (following a foul by Tomás Brennan, who picked up a black card for the challenge). O’Sullivan found the net and Coláiste Mhuire - now with 13 men again - were three points adrift. The gap was soon six when Cormac Murphy found the bottom corner with a low drive, after Tadhg O’Gorman’s pass. At the break, Knockbeg College were firmly in the driving seat (3-9 to 2-6) and only one outcome seemed likely.

However, upon the resumption, Coláiste Mhuire immediately went on the attack and Conor Williams sent up Hugo Corroon for a point. And from the resulting kick-out, Williams was presented with a chance and he duly found the open net to leave just two points separating the teams.

After three minutes came a third Mullingar goal: Fionn Carey’s delivery was flicked to the net by Williams leaving it 4-7 to 3-9 in Coláiste Mhuire’s favour. McWade and Corroon carved an opening for Matthews to point after six minutes and, incredibly, Coláiste Mhuire now had a two-point lead.

Corroon shot wide when going for goal as a crazy final continued. A routine point was there for the taking but that wasn’t part of the script here, it seemed, as the drama continued, with Knockbeg College still only two points adrift.

The Carlow side applied late pressure, but Williams was back defending and won a vital ball at the end, earning a free out before the final whistle sounded. It led to great scenes of joy and elation among the Mullingar players and supporters.

Man of the match: Stephen McWade (Coláiste Mhuire): The talented centre forward was at the heart of all that was good and while he only managed two points from play, he was pivotal in a lot of other scores and the Knockbeg defence found it difficult to curb his influence.

Score of the match: MJ Long's goal after 10 minutes brought Coláiste Mhuire level, but the quality of the strike from 20 metres was to be admired on a day when missed chances abounded.

Scorers - Coláiste Mhuire: C Williams 2-0, H Corroon 1-2, MJ Long 1-0, C Matthews 0-3 (2f), S McWade 0-2, J Mulanniff 0-1. Knockbeg College: C O'Sullivan 1-3 (1-0 pen.; 0-1 line ball; 0-1f), M Regan 1-2, C Murphy 1-1, E Harris and W McGrath 0-1 each.

Coláiste Mhuire: Ben Thornton; Ryan Scott, Cathal Keena, Hugo Corroon; Louie Dillon, David Reilly, Tom Weir; Fionn Carey, Tomás Brennan; MJ Long, Stephen McWade, Josh Mullaniff; Cian Matthews, Conor Williams, Fionn Kelly. Subs: Zak Bates for Kelly (20), Aidan Doyle for Bates (ET), Oisín Scally for Long (9 ET), Rhys Brady for Scott (12 ET).

Knockbeg College: Greg O'Shea; Joe Davis, Dale Heffernan, Oliver Downey; Hugh Wall, Will Duffy, Michael Brennan; Darragh Brennan, Will McGrath; Henry Gannon, Cian O'Sullivan, Jack Anderson; Cormac Murphy, Mikey Regan, Eoin Harris. Subs: Finn Deering for Gannon (53), Tadhg O'Gorman for Harris (7 ET), Ronan Maher for Heffernan (14 ET).

Ref: Paul Fahey (Dublin).