Smyth and McHugh lead the charge as Marist march on

Marist College 2-9 St Patrick’s CS 2-3

By Eamon Donoghue

Marist College, Athlone powered their way past St Pat’s, Navan against the odds in the second half of this North Leinster Schools junior football semi-final on Wednesday of last week.

Playing on their home ground, Marist College were backed by the strong gusty wind in the first half. They were the better team for most of that first half, but Garrycastle's James McHugh was their lone scorer with 0-5, until Clann na nGael’s Diarmuid O’Higgins kicked their sixth score in the 30th minute. St Pat’s held sway at the break, leading 2-1 to 0-6 at half-time.

St Pat’s had struggled to get the ball into the attack against the wind but when they did, they looked to have a better and more dangerous attack. They made few inroads into the Marist backline in the first half but they came away with 2-1, Rian Porter and Stephen Cahill the goalscorers.

Although Marist had the better of the exchanges out the field, it was St Pat’s that were the more economical in front of the posts in the first half.

It hadn’t looked good for the hosts at the interval.

They had relied heavily on McHugh for scores and direction from centre half-back Adam Smyth. Also they had the strong elements to face into for the second half.

As might be expected, St Pat’s came out after the turnaround with all guns blazing. They scored first to extend their lead, with impressive corner-forward Nathan Reilly tapping over a free after Cahill was fouled. The Navan school was on top, helped by the wind, but they made a number of unforced errors in possession. Before they knew it, ten minutes had vanished and St Pat’s had just the solitary point added to their half-time total.

Marist sensed if they could deal with the elements that were in their face, they could win this game. They upped the ante, they were aggressive in the tackle and they were the more physical team. They turned the game into a battle and that suited the Athlone school down to a tee.

Inspired by Smyth at number six, their relentless energy simply broke down what was until then an organised St Pat’s defence. But it was the Marist defenders that had to show the way on the scoreboard.

Tubberclair’s Daire Burke marauded up from full-back to kick an inspirational score that lifted the large group of Marist supporters that had come out to encourage their fellow students. Moments later, Smyth kicked what was an even more uplifting score from distance, off his cultured left boot.

St Pat's were rocked and the Marist, vocally urged on by their supporters, had all the momentum. The match was level by the 44th minute, Marist 0-8 St Pat’s 2-2.

Then it all fell into place for the Marist. Maryland/Tang's Smyth rampaged through the St Pat’s defence, passed to McHugh and the latter's pass across goal was palmed into the net by Darragh Glennon.

Smyth again went on a run and his pass found McHugh, who went for the jugular himself but was impeded and the referee awarded a penalty.

McHugh dusted himself off to take the spot kick and though it was saved by Jack Kane, McHugh side-footed the rebound into the net to the delight of the home supporters and players alike.

It was too late for any response from the visitors. They did try their best, as would be expected from them, but all they could register was a Reilly free. The Marist saw out the game and will move on to the final against Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar feeling that this test will definitely stand to them.

The Marist played their best in the fourth quarter. They tackle aggressively and show a willingness to battle for the ball.

They do rely on McHugh for scores and they rely even more on Smyth to lead from centre half-back. Those two players are crucial to the team.

Player of the match: Adam Smyth (Marist College). Smyth was the standout player on the park from the first minute to the last, with his reading of the game at centre half-back, his sharp distribution into the forwards, his forays into attack and assist for several Marist scores. And to top it off, his rip roaring point from distance into the wind in the second half was the inspirational score that drove the Marist to victory. Daire Burke, Andrew Henson and James McHugh all played crucial roles in the win.

Key moment: The key score was Darragh Glennon’s goal. That goal gave the Marist the ascendancy and they pushed on from there.

Scorers - Marist: J McHugh 1-6 (0-3f); D Glennon 1-0; D O’Higgins, D Burke and A Smyth 0-1 each. St Pat’s: S Cahill 1-0 and F Porter 1-0 each; N Reilly 0-2 (2f); L Kenny 0-1.

Marist College, Athlone: Kailin Blessing; Rory McMickan, Daire Burke, Andrew Cotton; Conor Fennell, Adam Smyth, Aidan Brennan; Andrew Henson, Donal Dawson; William Geraghty, Diarmuid O’Higgins, Darragh Murray; Cian Duffy, Darragh Glennon, James McHugh. Subs: Seán Whittaker for Geraghty (40 mins), Seán Keegan for Brennan (60).

St Patrick’s CS, Navan: Jack Kane; Harry Smith, Conor Reuter, Thomas Morgan; Oran Meade, Liam Devine, Billy Birmingham; Cormac Smith, Charles McCarthy; Will Byrne, Luke Kenny, Stephen Cahill; Rian Higgan, Rian Porter, Nathan Reilly. Subs Adam McEvoy for Cahill (47 mins), Patrick Yourell for Porter (57), Tadhg Foley for Birmingham (58).

Referee: Niall Ward (Westmeath).