St Patrick's, Maghera may have only beaten Colaiste Na Sceilge by three points in this All-Ireland Colleges Senior Football ( Hogan Cup) semi-final played at a sun drenched Birr yesterday but they were by far the better side and the Kerry college can have few complaints.
St Patrick's were quickly into their stride and put over three quick points inside the opening five minutes but in a rare counter attack Paul O'Connor rifled the ball to the St Patrick's net for a superb goal a minute later.
The Ulster champions suffered a body blow when corner forward Brendan Mullen sent off having received a second yellow card in the 20th minute but it merely fired up St Patrick's to greater effort.
No score for a seventeen minute period as Colaiste Na Sceilge defended defiantly with Colin O'Sullivan and Killian Young outstanding but five unanswered by St Patrick's in the closing minutes of the half from Charlie Kell two, Phillip O'Connell, Michael McCann and Derry minor Mark Lynch saw them pull clear. Colaiste Na Sceilge point from play in the game came from Daniel Falvey in the final minute of the half, leaving St Patrick's leading 0-8 to 1-1 at the break and looking well in control.
Colaiste Na Sceilge got the ideal start to the second half when Kevin O'Sullivan latched on to a ball that deceived the full back, to drill a low ball to the St Patrick's net for a poachers goal.
St Patrick's were not to be denied and responded with four unanswered points to lead 0-13 to 2-1 at the end of the third quarter. Bryan Sheehan who tried his heart out for the Munster champions converted four frees in the final quarter to narrow the gap to just three points with time running out.
Then fourteen man St Patrick's put a superb move together and full forward Michael McCann finished to the net and Colaiste Na Sceilige for the third year, were sunk at the semi-final stage.
Daniel Falvey volleyed a consolation goal for the Kerry lads in added time but St Patrick's were stronger and faster and Mark Lynch was their man of the match with Paul Donnelly running him very close.
Scorers: St Patrick's Magherea: M Lynch 0-6 (0-4 frees), M McCann 1-2 (0-1free), C Kielt 0-3, D O'Hagan, P O'Connell and J Nelson 0-1 each. Colaiste Na Sceilge: B Sheehan 0-4 all frees, D Falvey 1-1, P O'Connor and K O'Sullivan 1-0 each.
St Patrick's MAGHERA: O McNickoll, R Dillon, J Keenan, P Donnelly, G Scullion, G O'Kane, P O'Connell, J Bradley, L Hinphey, D O'Hagan, J Nelson, C Kielt, M McCann, M Lynch, B Mullen.
COLAISTE NA SCEILGE: D Corcoran, M P O'Donoghue, C O'Sullivan, K Young, T O'Sullivan, M Curran, T Lyne, B Sheehan, S O'Shea, D Falvey, C O'Driscoll, D Walsh, K O'Sullivan, P O'Connor, D King. Subs: R Keating for D Falvey, P Curran for C O'Driscoll, K O'Leary for P O'Connor (inj), L O'Sullivan for M P O'Donoghue, G O'Sullivan for S O'Shea, P Curran for D King.
Referee: J Bannon (Longford)
