St Pat's ease past Dublin side

Seldom have St Patrick's CS enjoyed a victory in the Leinster Post Primary Schools' SFC as comprehensive as they achieved today when they defeated Dublin side Colaiste Eanna, 4-13 to 1-4, in Templeogue. 

This was a game the Navan school side controlled from start to finish and the scoreline does not adequately relflect their dominance.

With the help of 2-2 from Seneschalstown's Cathal Finnegan in the opening half St Pat's led 2-8 to 0-3 at the interval.

The Navan side continued to create opportunities in the second-half despite a raft of substitutions made by the management team of Colm O'Rourke and Enda Monaghan.

One of those replacements, Paul Cunningham came on to put his imprint on the game in the second-half scoring 2-1. Another substitute, Aaron Lynch also made his mark with two points.

Cathal Finnegan, Coalan Ward, Frankie Cullen, Padraig Finnerty, Diarmuid McCabe, Cian Swaine were others to contribute points over the hour. 

There was an element of confusion about the location of the game with St Pat's believing the match was at Ballyboden-St Enda's ground nearby.

However that was not the case and instead the action unfolded on the school's pitch. 

Colaiste Eanna had Dublin minor captain James Holland in their line-up but they couldn't make much progress against the St Pat's defence. 

The home side did manage to get a goal in the closing stages from Shane Kennedy but there was no stopping St Pat's who march on to the next round. 

This was a confident, sturdy performance from St Pat's with players such as Kevin McGrath and Oisin Martyn showing up well particularly in the way they powered forward from their half-back positions. 

The full-forward line of Cullen, Ward and Cathal Finnegan caused plenty of problems when the ball was played into them. 

Shane Kennedy grabbed a late goal for Colaiste Eanna while Dublin minor James Holland also caused problems for the visitors but St Pat's simply had too much firepower for the overwhelmed home side.  

St Patrick's Classical School - Mark Devlin (Simonstown); Peter Martyn (Slane), Eimhin Power (Navan O'Mahonys), Shane Kavanagh (Simonstown); Kevin McGrath (Simonstown), Brian Maguire (Seneschalstown), Oisin Martyn (Dunderry); Cian Swaine (Clann na nGael 0-3), Sean Conlon (Simonstown); Aodhan Mallon (Navan O'Mahonys), Diarmuid McCabe (Summerhill 0-1), Padraig Finnerty (Skryne 0-1); Frankie Cullen (Simonstown 0-2), Coalan Ward (Wolfe Tones 0-1), Cathal Finnegan (Seneschalstown 2-2). Subs - Paul Cunningham (O'Mahonys 2-1) for Finnegan 22 mins, Aaron Lynch (Trim 0-2) for Cullen 42m, Larry Morgan (Round Towers) for McGrath, Darragh Finnegan (Seneschalstown) for Finnerty both 44m, Jack Condra (Nobber) for McCabe. 

Colaiste Eanna - J Roe; R Hester, L Corcoran, D J Ennis; F Keogh, K Kennedy, B Kelly; J Holland, R Donoghue (0-1); S Kennedy (1-2), E McGarvey, C Lynch; D O'Riordan, M O'Brien, L Ball. Subs - C Cashman (0-1) for McGarvey 37 mins, C Fallon for Ball, E Cashman for O'Riordan both 51m.