Sport

Regan the hero for St Pat's

LEINSTER COLLEGES SF A SEMI-FINAL: St

Mon Mar 07 2011 - 00:00

LEINSTER COLLEGES SF A SEMI-FINAL: St. Patrick's, Navan 2-11 Moate CS 1-12:AN OPPORTUNIST goal from substitute Dylan Regan in the 55th minute proved to be crucial as hot favourites St Patrick's, Navan were made to fight all the way to overcome brave Moate Community School in a very entertaining clash at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Saturday.

Powered on by a well-taken goal from Ciarán Fitzsimons in the fifth minute, the winners looked by far the better team in the early exchanges and were full value for their six-point lead after the first quarter.

But Moate improved as the game went on and Cian Bradley’s accurate freetaking had them within a goal of Colm O’Rourke’s charges at the interval (1-6 to 0-6).

Despite St Patrick’s changing their midfield pairing, Moate ruled the roost there and continued to eat into the Navan lead.

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In the 40th minute, David McCormack fielded a lineball from fellow-midfielder John Maguire and crashed the ball to the net to put Dessie Dolan’s men in front by two points. But Moate missed a couple of great chances thereafter.

Inspired by centre forward, Alan Forde, St Patrick’s drew level before striking for the crucial goal with five minutes remaining when Regan squeezed a shot into the net from a tight angle. Moate battled right to the final whistle but it is St Patrick’s who will attempt to regain their provincial crown.

ST PATRICK'S, NAVAN:R Burlingham; N Coughlan, O Fitzpatrick, E Murtagh; R Ó Coileáin, L Bourke, C Shaw; F McEntee, D Curran; C McGrane, A Forde (0-4), B Dardis; N O'Brien, C Smith (0-4, three frees), C Fitzsimons (1-2). Subs:F Ward (0-1) (for Curran, ht), D Regan (1-0) (for McGrane, 42 mins), G Power (for Murtagh, 47), P Kennelly (for O'Brien, 56).

MOATE CS:J Kinahan; J O'Meara, L Colgan, R Gorman; J O'Kelly-Lynch, P Holloway, J. Ganley; J Maguire (0-1), D McCormack (1-1), L Dolan (0-2), C Bradley (0-7, six frees), J Linnane (0-1), D Kelly, D Kelleher, S Lawler.

Referee:B O'Shea (Dublin).

Next Up . . .

Navan side St Pat’s will take on Dundalk Colleges in the provincial decider later this month. Date and venue to be decided.