Geoghegan’s late goal sends Coláiste Mhuire into final

Coláiste Mhuire 2-8, St Pat's 2-3

By Gerry Buckley

Last Tuesday morning, just three days after their seniors’ memorable win in the Bro Bosco Cup final, the First Year footballers from Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar kept up the school’s winning ways with a deserved win in the Bro Hubert Cup semi-final against St Patrick’s, Navan on a heavy pitch in Simonstown, albeit the five-point margin was harsh on the local side.

The visitors, managed by Niall Smullen (a fine St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge midfielder in their Bro Bosco Cup-winning side in 2020) were never headed, and they took an early lead when a well-worked free kick ended with Harry Brennan emulating Paul Keating against Ardscoil na Trionóide with an improvised overhead flick to the net.

His colleague Paidí Slevin went close on two occasions before good play by energetic wing back Michael Long precipitated a neat point from Conor Reilly. The black and amber-clad boys pulled back a goal in great style in the 18th minute when a superb fisted pass by Luke Gaffney teed up Mossie Gillic who found the net with aplomb.

Long responded instantly with a good point, before a wonderful Mullingar move ended with Slevin pointing when a goal beckoned. Ben Loughlin increased the lead for the lads in green and black with a fisted point after soloing goalward. The losers’ most dangerous attacker, Liam Fallon replied with a quality point in the 29th minute, but his side still trailed by 1-4 to 1-1 at the break.

Exactly a minute after play resumed, Oisín Keena put the winners four clear (albeit after a suspicion of overcarrying). St Patrick’s had more possession than their opponents at this juncture and their endeavours were rewarded in the 35th minute when Fallon goaled from point-blank range to round off a patient move. His team mate Gillic came close to raising another green flag shortly afterwards, but his fly-kicked effort was narrowly wide.

Coláiste Mhuire were a little wasteful over the ensuing few minutes, with just a point from the outstanding Patrick Wallace to show for their efforts. A routine free conversion by Gillic left the gap at the bare minimum (1-6 to 2-2), but Wallace soon doubled his points’ haul in great style.

In the 44th minute, a foul on Gillic correctly resulted in a penalty for the Navan boys, but Iarlaith Sweeney came to Coláiste Mhuire’s rescue with a great save from Fallon’s spot-kick.

A dipping shot from Wallace was narrowly off-target before a flowing St Patrick’s move at the other end finished with a low-trajectory point from Ciaran Norris, who might easily have goaled.

Fallon proceeded to untypically spurn a great goal opportunity for the side co-managed by Mark Donnelly from Bunbrosna.

Coláiste Mhuire made the most of these let-offs when Long and Wallace combined to set up Sam Geoghegan who duly rifled home an insurance goal from a tight angle. Loughlin’s injury-time free conversion left the Mullingar lads winners by a flattering five-point margin.

Scorers – Coláiste Mhuire: H Brennan, S Geoghegan 1-0 each, B Loughlin (1f), P Wallace 0-2 each, M Long, P Slevin, O Keena, C Reilly 0-1 each.

St Patrick’s: M Gillic (0-1f), L Fallon 1-1 each, C Norris 0-1.

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Iarlaith Sweeney; Liam Doyle, Conor Walters, Jack Cahill; Michael Long, James Nea, Páidí Slevin; Patrick Wallace, Oisín Keena; Harry Brennan, Ben Loughlin, Fionn Bradley; Conor Reilly, Oisín Coyne, Sam Geoghegan. Sub used: Darragh Orme for Brennan (55).

St Patrick’s College, Navan: Luke Reynolds Donnelly; Dinny Reilly, Adam Fallon, Cathal Rogers; Paddy O’Sullivan, Evan McKeever, Darragh McCoy; Callum Craig, Fionn Toibin; Thomas Kelly, Mossie Gillic, Luke Gaffney; Liam Fallon, Ciaran Norris, Morgan Martin. Subs used: Adam Kirwan for Martin (h-t), Harry Smith for Kelly (51).

Ref: Eamonn Barry (Meath).