St Mel’s Longford make positive winning start in the Leinster Championship

St Mel’s College . . . 4-12   Colaiste Choilm Tullamore . . . 2-7

The Tullamore side trailed by 2-8 to 0-5 in the early stages of the second half but scored a couple of goals in a determined comeback to gradually close the gap and just three points separated the sides with 58 minutes gone on the clock.

A point from electric corner-forward Cormac Flynn moments later lifted the pressure on St Mel’s and wing back Daniel Carey then surged forward to shoot over the bar before the fantastic Flynn (registering the impressive total of 2-5, all from play) scored a cracking goal to put the issue beyond all doubt.

A speculative shot from substitute Eamon Igoe ended up in the back of the Tullamore net in the fourth additional minute and this was certainly a positive winning start to the championship campaign for the Longford college whose remaining group stage fixture is away against Marist Athlone on Friday November 10th.  

The St Mel’s management team of Damien Rooney and Aidan Rowan had to plan for the Round 1 clash against Colaiste Choilm without quality forwards Paddy Moran and Michael Flynn, who played for Killoe and Clonguish respectively in the county senior football championship on Sunday last, with Ross Shields (Clonguish) and Ryan Keogh (Killoe) also on the injured list. 

ST MEL’S COLLEGE: Stephen Oates (Grattans); Paddy Clancy (St Brigid’s Killashee), Conor Flynn (Clonguish), Mark Cooney (Clonguish); Cormac Flynn (Kilmore, Clonguish), Kevin Baskett (Clonguish), Daniel Carey (Clonguish, 0-2); Jamie Dorr (Clonguish), Andrew Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1); Enda Quinn (Killoe), Harry Mulvihill (Grattans, 1-1), Davin Donnelly (Killoe); Cormac Flynn (Clonguish, 2-5), Darragh Maguire (Killoe, 0-1), Conor Doherty (Killoe, 0-2). 

Subs:- James Hagan (Clonguish) for D Maguire (half-time); Eamon Igoe (Killoe, 1-0) for E Quinn (45 mins); Shane Donohoe for C Doherty (59 mins).  

Blood sub:- Paul Eivers (Killoe) for D Donnelly (13 mins); Donnelly for Eivers (18 mins). 

COLAISTE CHOILM TULLAMORE: Sean Kavanagh; Jack Bracken, John Colgan, Brian Guinan; Cillian Owens, Pa Kenna (1-0), Aaron Rhatigan; Eoin Dunne, Niall Furlong; Davin Keegan, Cian Bracken (1-3, all frees), Dara Bates; Stephen Doran, Ryan Kenny (0-3, 2 frees), Mark Holton (0-1). 

Subs:- Eoin Rouse for N Furlong (half-time); Tadhg Kelly for C Owens (half-time); Colm Nolan for M Holton (43 mins); Luke Condron for D Keegan (50 mins); Conor Whittle for E Dunne (58 mins).

Referee: Michael Gordon (Westmeath).