Connaire’s goal seals thrilling Leinster final win for Coláiste Mhuire
Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar 3-13 Naas CBS 1-16
Gerry Buckley
After a six-year wait, Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar regained the Leinster junior ‘A’ football title in splendid fashion on the all-weather pitch in Dunganny on Tuesday afternoon, the boys in green and navy defeating the recent big ball kingpins in the province, Naas CBS, by three points in a titanic battle.
Two goals in the opening ten minutes scored by Aaron Connaire and Sean Hayes – both preventable from a Naas perspective – put the team under the tutelage of Ciaran Farrell, Gavin Dooley and Oisín Hogan into a flattering 2-1 to 0-2 lead.
However, playing some delightful football in the process, the Kildare school had edged ahead by 1-9 to 2-3 by half-time, their goal coming from the boot of Rob Millham in the 24th minute.
The Mullingar boys regained the lead (2-8 to 1-10) by the 38th minute and the lead ebbed and flowed thereafter, with both sides kicking outstanding scores, with the winners’ sub Killian Mooney scoring three vital points.
The blue and gold-clad outfit were leading by 1-15 to 2-10 when Connaire pounced for his second goal of the contest in the 55th minute, after fine play by Will Scahill (who was held scoreless for play, yet very influential nonetheless).
Coláiste Mhuire’s lead was just two points with a minute of added-time played, but sub James Murtagh converted a difficult free with time almost up to seal a memorable victory.
Unlike 2018, there is no All-Ireland series in this grade, so Ty Masterson, who received the provincial trophy from Michael McHugh after the game, will not have a chance to lift the Paul McGirr Cup.
Scorers - Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar: A Connaire 2-5, S Hayes 1-0, K Mooney 0-3, T Aherne, S Plunkett, W Scahill (f), P Monaghan, J Murtagh (f) 0-1 each. Naas CBS: S Tully 0-8 (6f), R Millham 1-0, R Thompson 0-3 (3f), M Costello, L Kenny 0-2 each, E Cowzer 0-1.
COLÁISTE MHUIRE, MULLINGAR: Paul Keating; Tristan Boyce, Ty Masterson, Ben Sheerin; Eoin Donohue, Sean Hayes, Peter Conneely; Padraig Monaghan, Peader Glennon; Ted Aherne, Eoin Meehan, Sean Plunkett; Will Scahill, Aaron Connaire, Sean Byrne. Subs used: Killian Mooney for Conneely (36), James Murtagh for Aherne (39).
NAAS CBS: Mark Halligan; Oisín O'Neill, Aran Martin, Niall McAndrew; Aidan McGrane, Tom Kilmartin, Liam Kenny; Stephen Murphy, Matthew Costello; Evan Lenehan, Sean Tully, Rob Millham; Cillian Long, Euan Cowzer, Rory Thompson. Subs used: Evan Cahill for Lenehan (49), Darragh O'Boyle for Murphy (55), Brady Walsh for Costello (57).
Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath)