St Pat's feel the gloom in Kiltoom
The chance of adding to their haul of Leinster Post-Primary SFC titles evaporated for St Patrick's CS, Navan when they lost out 1-17 to 3-13 to Marist, Athlone at Kiltoom today.
The game ebbed and flowed in an entertaining fashion however it was the home side who proved sharper in front of goals to deservedly claim victory.
Despite producing only a mediocre performance in the opening half St Pat's trailed by only a point at the interval, 0-11 to 2-6. Kieran Colclough and Tom O'Carroll netted for Marist.
They enjoyed a very productive third quarter. They scored their goal just two minutes into the second-half when Diarmuid McCabe bundled the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.
Midway through the second-half St Pat's led by 1-17 to 2-8 and looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory.
Then the wheels fell off as far as St Pat's were concerned as Marist started to make changes that really worked. The Athlone side got through for a third goal with O'Carroll netting again with his two goals a good indication of the problems he cuased the St Pat's rearguard.
Over the hour McCabe, Caolan Ward, Cian Swaine, Padraig Finnerty, Cathal Finnegan and Oisin Martyn all contributed points for St Pat's but they needed more to subdue a spirited Marist side.
Defensively St Pat's were exposed and they just didn't impose themselves enough on the game that was played at the home of St Brigid's the Roscommon team who won the All-Ireland SFC club title in 2013.
However, there will be no All-Ireland success this season for St Pat's.
St Patrick's - Mark Devlin (Simonstown); Eoghan Monaghan, Eimhin Power (Navan O'Mahonys), Shane Kavanagh (Simonstown); Aodhan Mallon (O'Mahonys), Brian Maguire (Seneschalstown), Oisin Martyn (Dunderry 0-1); Cian Swaine (Clann na nGael (0-5 three frees), Sean Conlon (Simonstown); Cian McBride (St Cuthbert's), Diarmuid McCabe (Summerhill 1-2), Padraig Finnerty (Skryne 0-1); Frankie Cullen (Simonstown), Caolan Ward (Wolfe Tones 0-5 two frees, '45'), Cathal Finnegan (Seneschalstown 0-3 two frees). Subs - Blessed Omorojor (Simonstown) for 39 mins, Brian Dowling (Trim) for Cullen 46m, Aaron Lynch (Trim) for Finnegan 53m.
Marist, Athlone - S Smith; S McGonagle, S Furey, R Dempsey; K Colclough (1-4 three frees), D Fortune, E Mulivhill; E Nolan (0-1), S Cunnane; M Nally, J Sheeran, A Neary (0-3 two frees); S Dowd, B Dervan (0-3 one free), T O'Carroll (2-2). Subs - M Egan for Nally 44m, B Martin for Sheeran 50m. Black card - Smith (replaced by M Treacy 19m).