Regan goal paves the way to another final

Dylan Regan struck another late goal to ensure St Patrick's CS, Navan scraped into the Leinster Colleges SFC final with a narrow victory over Moate CC at Mullingar on Saturday. Regan came off the bench and scored goals in the previous two games, but none were as important as the one he sneaked in for on Saturday. When the O'Mahonys player managed to prevent Cathal Smith's speculative point attempt from going wide there appeared to be nothing on. However, from a narrow angle Regan saw an opening and toe-poked the ball beyond Joe Kinahan at the near post to give St Pat's a 2-10 to 1-10 lead with five minutes remaining. Such a lead looked unlikely because apart from the opening 20 minutes, during which they were totally dominated by the Navan school, Moate appeared in control. They played the better football as St Pat's lost their way. During the lop-sided opening quarter St Pat's threatened to run riot. Ciaran Fitzsimons (pictured), Alan Forde, Nicky O'Brien and Barry Dardis destroyed the Westmeath school's rearguard. Instead of building on a 1-5 to 0-2 lead, St Pat's capitulated as Moate started to find gaps and create openings. That six-point lead was whittled down to three at half-time and within eight minutes of the restart Moate were level, 0-9 to 1-6, and in a great position. With 20 minutes remaining Moate looked set for a shock win when confusion in the St Pat's full-back line allowed David McCormack score an easy goal to give his side a 1-9 to 1-7 lead. Fitzsimons was outstanding in the early stages while Forde was also impressive. Dardis produced patches of brilliance and at the back Liam Bourke was magnificent while Niall Coughlan and Oran Fitzpatrick also did well. Moate started to grow into the game, John Maguire was a huge influence at midfield while Lorcan Dolan and Daniel Kelleher caused consternation in the St Pat's defence. Fitzsimons was the key to that great start. Inside 90 seconds he left the Moate defence in his wake, raced clear and popped the ball over the ball. A minute later he was celebrating a goal when he gathered from Conal Shaw and finished. Maguire responded with Moate's opening score on four minutes, but the remainder of the quarter belonged to St Pat's as Forde (two) and Fitzsimons made it 1-4 to 0-1. Cian Bradley converted a Moate free, but after Dardis forced a good save from Kinahan, Forde gave St Pat's a six-point cushion. Then the Navan side imploded. Bradley (free) and Forde traded points before scores from Bradley (two) and Dolan closed the gap to 0-6 to 1-6 at the break. Points from Bradley (free), Jack Linnane and McCormack drew Moate level after the resumption, but Forde ended a 16-minute barren spell for St Pat's with a fine point. Moate were still in the ascendancy and looked to have taken a huge step towards victory with McCormack's goal, but St Pat's produced the perfect response as Smith (free) and Forde restored parity, 1-9 each. McCormack missed a 13-metre free for Moate, but they forged ahead with 12 minutes remaining when Fitzpatrick was harshly adjudged to have fouled Kelleher and Bradley converted the free. Then St Pat's found their groove again. Half-time substitute Fiachra Ward pointed brilliantly before Regan displayed his knack for goals with what proved to be the winning score. St Patrick's CS, Navan - Robert Burlingham (Simonstown); Niall Coughlan (Simonstown), Oran Fitzpatrick (Clann na nGael), Evan Murtagh (Navan O'Mahonys); Ruairi O Coileain (Dunsany), Liam Bourke (Simonstown), Conal Shaw (Wolfe Tones); Fiachra McEntee (Nobber), Dean Curran (Simonstown); Conor McGrane (Walterstown), Alan Forde (Navan O'Mahonys 0-4), Barry Dardis (Summerhill); Nicky O'Brien (Simonstown), C Smith (Navan O'Mahonys 0-4, three frees), C Fitzsimons ( Clann na nGael 1-2). Subs - Fiachra Ward ( Wolfe Tones 0-1) for Curran half-time, Dylan Regan (Navan O'Mahonys 1-0) for McGrane 42 mins, Gary Power (Navan o'Mahonys) for Murtagh 46m, Paddy Kennelly (Dunderry) for O'Brien 56m. Moate CC - J Kinahan; J O'Meara, L Colgan, R Gorman; J O'Kelly-Lynch, P Halloway, J Canty; J Maguire (0-1), D McCormack (1-1); L Dolan (0-2), C Bradley (0-7, six frees), J Linnane (0-1); D Kelly, D Kelleher, S Lawler. Referee - Brian O'Shea (Dublin).