St Mel’s College, Longford win with ease in advancing to the Leinster semi-final

St Mel’s College . . . 2-19   Offaly Secondary Schools . . . 2-5 

Minus the suspended Jack Belton (Mostrim), the superior St Mel’s side were far too strong for the Offaly Secondary Schools amalgamation who trailed by 2-4 to 0-0 with just 13 minutes gone in the quarter-final clash.   

Slick corner forwards Michael Flynn and Paddy Moran linked up to send Andrew Flynn through for the opening goal in the 4th minute and St Mel’s found the back of the net again approaching the end of the first quarter.

The quick thinking Matthew Flynn played a short free into the path of Michael Flynn and while his shot was saved by the opposing keeper Fergal Bracken, the alert Michael was on target from the rebound to put St Mel’s in a commanding lead. 

The Offaly schools eventually registered their first score when Marcus Dalton shot over the bar midway through the first half and the visitors then got a badly needed goal from a  penalty converted by Ronan Flynn in the 19th minute. 

But there was just no stopping this talented St Mel’s team who ended up 2-8 to 1-3 ahead at the break with Michael Flynn (2), Andrew Flynn, Matthew Carey (3) and Paddy Moran (2) accounting for the points in the first half. 

It was more of the same dominant display in the second half with St Mel’s keeping the scoreboard ticking over in emphatic fashion as another 11 points were kicked, some of which were brilliant strikes.

Matthew Carey (3), wing back Gavin Farrelly, Michael Flynn, Ronan Courtney, Paddy Moran (2), Colm Coyle, Harry Mulvihill and Matthew Flynn were all on the mark as St Mel’s cruised into the last four in Leinster. 

Half-time substitute Oisin Guinan grabbed a consolation goal for the Offaly Schools amalgamation, comprising of players from Gallen CS (Ferbane), Tullamore College, Ardscoil Chiarain (Clara), Banagher College and Kilcormac SS. 

Scorers - St. Mel’s College: Matthew Carey 0-6 (1f), Michael Flynn 1-3, Andrew Flynn 1-1, Paddy Moran 0-4, Gavin Farrelly 0-1, Colm Coyle 0-1, Ronan Courtney 0-1, Colm Coyle 0-1, Harry Mulvihill 0-1, Matthew Flynn 0-1f.

 Scorers - Offaly Secondary Schools: Ronan Flynn 1-0 (penalty), Oisín Guinan 1-0, Marcus Dalton 0-2, Luke Kelly 0-1, Cathal Mahon 0-1, Geordi O’Meara 0-1.

ST MEL’S COLLEGE: Caolan Hussey (Mostrim); Conor Smith (Clonguish), Adam Donnelly (Killoe), Kevin Baskett (Clonguish); Gavin Farrelly (Killoe), Ross Shields (Clonguish), James Connell (Mostrim); Cormac Harte (Killoe), Matthew Carey (Clonguish); Andrew Flynn (Clonguish), Matthew Flynn (Clonguish), Jonathan Burke (Clonguish); Michael Flynn (Clonguish), Harry Mulvihill (Grattans), Paddy Moran (Killoe). 

Subs:- Ronan Courtney (Mostrim) for A Donnelly (half-time); Colm Coyle (Killoe) for Michael Flynn (49 mins); Cormac Flynn (Clonguish) for M Carey (55 mins); Eamon Igoe (Killoe) for K Baskett (55 mins); Jamie Dorr (Clonguish) for J Burke (59 mins). 

OFFALY SECONDARY SCHOOLS: Fergal Bracken; Seán Flynn, Eamon Bolger, Mark Wren; Rúairí O’Neill, Matthew Darcy, Patrick Taaffe; Geordi O’Meara, Aaron Gorman; Barry Egan, Seán Conway, Cathal Mahon; Marcus Dalton, Luke Kelly, Ronan Flynn.

Subs:- Oisín Guinan for S Flynn (half-time); Darragh Bryant for P Taaffe (47 mins); Dylan Daly for A Gorman (51 mins); Dylan Moore for M Wren (56 mins); Ultan Carroll for C Mahon (stoppage time). 

Referee: Ken Daly (Westmeath).