Excellent St. Fintina"s too strong for gallant Moate C.S.

The ambitions of Moate Community College to claim fa North Leinster G.A.A. Under16 (Junior) Colleges Hurling League title, were well and truly dashed in St. Loman"s G.A.A Ground, Mullingar, on Friday last, November 28, when they went under in the decider.Their opposition, St. Fintina"s, Longwood, from Meath, played text book hurling that was lovely to look at, not that Moate C.S. would agree!St. Fintina"s laid the foundation of their success during the first half. At times St. Fintina"s seemed to score at their ease, as an honest, but outgunned Moate C.S. team struggled to make an impression in the contest. The Meath school were in front by a margin of 15 points at half time.Moate C.S., under the guidance of Castlepollard native, Joe Creggy, were much improved in the second half, and played with great honour and dignity. However, their task was not so much uphill, but a mountain, and was beyond even their best efforts, with a splendid St. Fintina"s team emerging winners. St. Fintina"s team captain, Thomas Raleigh accepted the winners shield from Noel Delaney after the final.Inside the opening minute of play. Adam Gannon rifled over a point for St. Fintina"s and their lead was doubled when Thomas Raleigh pointed a free as Moate C.S. struggled to settle into the contest. After Thomas Raleigh had fired over another point for the Fintinas the teams swapped wides in quick succession.Koran Byrne notched the fourth St. Fintina"s point, his team then quickly going on to add points from Thomas Raleigh and Josh Ryan. After Thomas Raleigh (free) was wide for St. Fintina"s, his team notched the opening goal of the contest, Josh Ryan slamming the ball to the roof of the Moate C.S. net, via a deflection. Despite the best efforts of Moate C.S. it was St. Fintina"s who continued to hold sway. They added to their already impressive lead when Thomas Raleigh (free) fired over a point.Adam Gannon and Thomas Raleigh added a further point each to the St. Fintina"s total before Moate C.S. enjoyed a good spell but such was their luck they were unable to make any impression in terms of the match scoreline.But Moate C.S. were then rewarded for their efforts, Jamie Cornally rifling the ball to the left corner of the St. Fintina"s net with a close range drive.The South Meath school were stung into a response and Koran Byrne hit over a point. St. Fintina"s team captain Thomas Raleigh then added on a point and the winners with a Killyon look to their starting line up, tagged on another point via Adam Gannon. Right on half time, St. Fintina"s won a close range free in an attacking situation. Free-taker Thomas Raleigh slammed the ball to the back of the Moate C.S. net to close first half action.Half time score: St. Fintina"s Longwood 2-12, Moate Community School 1-0.St. Fintina"s opening the scoring after the break with Thomas Raleigh shooting over a point from a free. The teams then swapped wides before the margin widened that little bit further when Thomas Raleigh pointed yet another free. The South Meath school added to their lead, Adam Gannon hitting over a point.Moate C.S. were having little or no luck in their search for scores, falling further in arrears when Thomas Raleigh pointed. The same player then slotted over a point, which came directly from a dead ball situation before the St. Fintina"s No. 11 received a great pass from Adam Gannon, to strike over yet another point. Moate C.S. then put an attacking move together, an attacking move that won them a 65m award. That 65m award was taken by Danny Kelleghan to David McCormack, the latter wasting no time in striking over a point.Moate C.S. then quickly swung into attack, St. Fintina"s netminder Ryan Moone diving to his right to pull off a superb save to deny a goal to Eamonn McCabe. From the 65m award, taken by Danny Kelleghan, the St. Fintina"s defence did not properly clear away the ball, enabling David McCormack to fire over a point from Moate C.S. Thomas Raleigh pointed for St. Fintina"s before Moate C.S. had their third point via Brian Guinan (free).In the closing seconds of normal playing time, Moate C.S. won another 65m award. Danny Kelleghan again took the said 65m award, lobbing the ball towards the St. Fintina"s goalmouth, which in turn enabled Eamonn McCabe to crash the ball to the back of the St. Fintina"s net with a first time backhand flick, cum drive to bring match action to a close.Final score: St. Fintina"s Longwood 2-20, Moate Community School 2-3.St. Fintina"s Longwood: Ryan Moone, David Flynn, Francis Doran, Stephen Teehan, Damien Healy, Jason Dowdall, Adam Gannon (0-4), Koran Byrne (0-2), Josh Ryan (0-1), Thomas Raleigh (2-13, 1-0 penalty, 0-6 frees), Ryan Keenan, Cormac Fitzsimons and Adam Burke. Subs used: Sean Dalton.Moate Community School: Dean Tyrrell, Eamonn McCabe (1-0), Gary Larkin, Lee Colgan, Danny Kelleghan, Brian Guinan (0-1 free), David McCormack (0-2), Adam Scanlon, Sean Mara, Ciaran Finnerty, Robert O"Kelly-Lynch, Niall Keegan and Jamie Cornally (1-0). Sub used: Sean Kincaid.Referee: Jimmy Weldon.Note: Due to a clash of colours, Moate C.S. actually wore their jerseys inside out for the duration of last Friday"s contest.