Moate CS master Marist in tactical battle

Moate CS 0-10 Marist College 0-7

Moate Community School advanced to the semi-finals of the Leinster Schools SF 'A' championship with victory over Marist College in a tense battle at Páirc Chiaráin yesterday (Thursday).

Having led by 0-10 to 0-4 with regulation time up, Moate CS were fully deserving winners as a last-ditch rally from the Marist failed to force extra-time.

Both sides defended in large numbers in what was a cagey affair between these local rivals, but Moate's counter attacks were far more effective. Moate's ability to execute turnovers and then launch swift attacks on the break was a key factor in the outcome of this quarter-final which attracted a sizeable crowd.

Moate CS also had a trump card in goalkeeper Jack Ryan, the young Doon player scoring three points from well struck frees. The fact that Ryan finished as the joint top scorer overall says a lot about the type of game this was, albeit the swirling breeze at the Athlone GAA venue made accurate shooting difficult.

Apart from Ryan and Marist attacker James McHugh, the only other player to score more than once was MCS midfielder James Mitchell, an influential figure in the second half.

The Marist's attacking play lacked variety and they paid the price for their reluctance to shoot and to kick the ball more often. They ran the ball into trouble on many occasions against a resolute Moate defence, with the likes of Cormac Murphy, Adam Fox and Cian Whitney to the fore.

The Marist's best period of play came when they threw caution to the wind in the closing stages, but they had given themselves too much to do and couldn't conjure the goal that was needed.

With plenty of talent in their squad, as many players have shown with their clubs, no doubt this Marist group will have better days in the future. But this occasion belonged to a Moate CS outfit coached by Peter Tormey and Niall Daly, and they are now looking forward to a semi-final against Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy.

Both sides had injury problems to contend with, Darragh Madden having dislocated his shoulder when helping Moate All Whites to win the Westmeath U20 football final last Saturday night. Remarkably, however, Madden played the entire game and even scored a point. On the Marist side, Thomas Bourke was unable to start as he continued his recovery from appendicitis, but the midfielder was brought on at half-time and made an impact.

Directly after the final whistle, an unsavoury fracas erupted which was sparked by a shirtless Moate CS player celebrating his side's victory exuberantly in front of Marist supporters and in close proximity to the Marist dugout. With the Marist camp stung by a disappointing defeat, the MCS player was ill-advised to celebrate in such a fashion to say the least. Yet that did not excuse Marist substitutes and players getting physically embroiled with the player which only served to inflame the situation further.

Indeed, it took the swift intervention of coaches and staff members from both sides to defuse the situation which could have descended into absolute mayhem. Overall, this keenly contested game was played without rancour and thankfully order was restored reasonably quickly and there appeared to be no serious injuries sustained.

Moate CS will meet a highly rated Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy side in their semi-final which is due to played on the week of January 13. The Athy outfit dethroned Br Bosco Cup holders Naas CBS in an all-Kildare quarter-final earlier this week.

Player of the match: Jack Ryan (Moate CS). In addition to scoring tree points from frees, Ryan produced a superb save to deny James McHugh a late goal which would have been a lifeline for the Marist. The MCS goalkeeper also delivered some well placed kickouts. Andrew Henson was the Marist's best player on the day, the Garrycastle player driving his team on with incisive runs from centre half-back. Perhaps he should have been moved into attack in the second half considering the way Marist were struggling to score.

Scorers - Moate CS: J Ryan 0-3 (3 frees); J Mitchell 0-2 (1 mark); E McLoughlin, T Heavin, D Deegan, D Madden and H Niall (f) 0-1 each. Marist College: J McHugh 0-3 (2f); C Geary, D O'Connor, P Keegan and D O'Higgins 0-1 each.

Moate Community School: Jack Ryan; Cormac Murphy, Adam Fox, Jack Daly; Tadhg Heavin, Cian Whitney, Eoin McCormack; James Mitchell, Hagan Niall; Darragh Madden, Darragh Deegan, Brian Doyle; Enda McLoughlin, Sean Óg Foley, Ben Martin. Subs used: Cody Parker for Daly (injured, 44 mins); Lee Corcoran for Martin; Dean Martin for Doyle (59).

Marist College, Athlone: Zac Mullally; Sean Keegan, Kailin Blessing, Daire Burke; Diarmuid O'Higgins, Andrew Henson, Kyle Mahon; Adam Smyth, Kealan Connell; Paul Keegan, Cillian Geary, Darragh Lough; James McHugh, Daire O'Connor, Thomas Cotton. Subs used: Sean Whittaker for Cotton (23 mins); Thomas Bourke for Mahon (half-time); Cian Duffy for Lough (50); Tom Sheehan for Geary (53); Donal Dawson for Smyth (57).

Referee: Mark Glancy (Longford).