Mullingar's Coláiste Mhuire power into quarter-final

Coláiste Mhuire 6-14, St Fintan's High School 0-3

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar swept aside St Fintan’s High School from Dublin in the preliminary quarter-final round of the Leinster Post-Primary School Championship in a rain-soaked and windy Multyfarnham GAA last Thursday morning.

A flurry of scores from all positions gave them Mullingar men a strong victory against a side who could not cope with the skillset and determination of their opponents.

The game was in doubt given the rain that fell before and even during but when it got going, Coláiste Mhuire fired first and never looked back. Will Scahill and Eoin Meehan hit two each with a solitary free from Sutton’s player, Daniel Moor, the only reply. The first quarter ended with a goal from Matthew Thornton after a strong team move.

The half fizzled along in the treacherous rain and horrible swirling wind with little other attacking potentials other than a Scahill point and the same man being denied a spot-kick just before the whistle of Seán Gannon sounded.

The small crowd in attendance were given some relief from the weather in the second half as Coláiste Mhuire came out in a new set of jerseys. A quick point from Darragh Smith was followed by a lovely goal from Conor Heffernan to make it 2-6 to 0-1. The next score from Oisín O’Hara was cancelled out by a free from Leo Keane as the Dubliners still looked for their first from play.

A wonderful mark from Eoin Meehan kept the Mullingar side ticking along and it wasn’t long before their third goal came from Scahill – O’Hara the architect with a delightful ball inside. Things continued on with Conor Daly pointing. Scahill then added another point, coming off a fast break once goalkeeper Adam Buckley made his only save of the day.

The final 15 minutes was as one-sided as any game as the school formerly known as St Mary's CBS simply put the foot down and went for the jugular. Meehan pointed before Scahill left Pádraigh Ryan standing with his bullet goal before Meehan added yet another to his tally.

The last of the Mullingar Shamrocks man’s points came via a mark. He wasn’t finished there, however. After the sole point from open play for the north Dubliners through substitute Conor Ennis and a wonderful score from Ben Sheerin, Meehan jinked his way around players with the ball on the deck before slotting home.

It was 6-14 in the dying seconds when Matthew Thornton took the give-and-go from Heffernan before striking for goal. Comprehensive would be an understatement for the Mullingar side as they continue their fine run of form.

Scorers – Coláiste Mhuire: W Scahill 2-4, E Meehan 1-6 (1f, 1m), M Thornton 2-0, C Heffernan 1-0, B Sheerin, C Daly, D Smith, O O’Hara 0-1 each. St Fintan’s HS: L Keane 0-1f, D Moor 0-1f, C Ennis 0-1.

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Mikey Weir, Conor Daly; Darragh Smith, Ty Masterson, Seán Byrne; Eoin Conlon, Donnacha Maguire; Will Scahill, Conor Heffernan, Eoin Meehan; Matthew Thornton, Oisín O’Hara, Michael Moloney. Subs used: Peadar Glennon for Heffernan (44), Adam Glynn for Smith (44), James Murtagh for Scahill (49), Paul Keating for O’Hara (51), Darragh Browne for Daly (54).

St Fintan’s High School, Sutton: Pádraigh Ryan; Tom Beary, Cian Alexander, Cillian Bradley; Daragh Nolan, Joe Sheppard, Patrick Fogarty; Marcel Hass, Rohan O’Shea; Cathal Barrett, Ronan Fitzpatrick, Seán O’Connell; Leo Keane, Daniel Moor, Ben Kennedy. Subs used: Conor Ennis for Kennedy (38).

Referee: Seán Gannon (Meath)