Big win in Colleges SFC an encouraging sign for St Pat’s

St Patrick's Navan, CS secured their place in the quarter-final of the Leinster Colleges SFC with a comprehensive victory over Ardee Community School in Páirc Tailteann on Tuesday of last week.

It didn't take long for St Pat's to make their mark with Óisín O’Neill slotting the first point. The next score came from Fionnán O’Connor in the 10th minute with a long range point. Óisín O’Neill knocked over his secondto extend his side's lead.

With no response from Ardee, the Navan side continued their dominance with a pointed free from Cian Commons. Conor Donohoe extended the Navan school's lead to five with a fine attempt followed by a third point for the Pat's wing back, Óisín O’Neill.

Ardee finally put themselves on the scoreboard with a point from play in the 24th minute, but St Pat's replied swiftly with a brilliant catch and pass from Commons to Billy Smyth whose shot hit the crossbar. However, goal-line scramble led to a Pat's penalty. Billy Smyth, the captain of the side, stepped up and slotted the ball into the net to give his team an eight-point advantage approaching half time.

However St Pat's didn't take their foot off the pedal as Commons scored a superb long distance point before another point from Smyth left it 1-8 to 0-1 to the home side at half-time.

With a blistering opening half behind them, Pat's continued where they left off when Commons scored his third one minute into the second-half. Ardee replied with a point but it was Commons once again with a well-taken score at the end of a good run to settle the home side.

An Ardee pointed free didn't faze the dominant St Pat's side who knocked over two further points to stretch their lead. However it was the Louth side who would control the play for the next six minutes with three unanswered points.

With the Navan side trying to see the game out, both teams traded two points each with the Skryne duo Billy Smyth and Conor Donohoe pointing well for their side.

Matthew Kealy sent his '45' sailing over with ease. Andrew Gormley followed with a score from a tight angle. Ardee replied with a '45' of their own but it was Smyth who capped off a great performance for the home side with a point from play.

St Patricks CS - Jamie Norris, Fionn McHale, Seán McLoughlin, Tadhg Murray, Óisín O’Neill (0-3), Matthew Kealy (0-1), James Donnelly, Darren O’Brien, Harry Cahill, Fionnán O’Connor (0-1), Cian Commons (0-5), Daniel Gavagan (0-1), Andrew Gormley (0-1), Billy Smyth (1-3, 1-0 penalty, one free), Conor Donohoe (0-2). Subs - Alex Carry, David Donnelly, Senan Duffy, Ben Clarke, Jamie Duffy.