Marist Athlone master St Mel’s Longford to finish top of the group

Marist College Athlone got the better of St Mel’s College in the remaining group game in the Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship at the Caulry GAA grounds (Co Westmeath) on Tuesday. 

The brilliance of full-forward James McHugh (who scored 2-7) was the major difference as Marist finished top of the group after winning all three games. 

The Longford college go through in 2nd place which sees them face a tough away fixture against Naas CBS in the preliminary round of the knockout phase next month. 

Marist College Athlone . . . 4-12   St Mel’s College . . . 1-15

St Mel’s trailed throughout most of the first half but Clonguish ace James Hagan rattled the net to level matters on the brink of half-time. 

Marist went straight up the other end and got a goal of their own as wing back William Geraghty picked up the break of a high ball towards the St Mel’s goalmouth and buried the ball into an empty net to leave his side in front by 3 at the break, 1-7 to 1-4.  

The two full-forwards, James McHugh (Marist) and James Hagan (St Mel’s), were the only scorers for their sides in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. 

McHugh with 2-2 (1 free) for his side and Hagan clocked up 0-4 (3 frees) to leave the scoreboard reading 3-9 to 1-8 in favour of the Athlone side. 

The boys in blue didn’t give up and after Marist scored again through a Donal Dawson point, a strong response for St Mel’s yielded scores from Michael Gacquin, James Shannon, Conor Reynolds and James Hagan (free) to close the gap to 4 points with 5 minutes to go. 

Marist corner-forward Cian Duffy scored a goal and a point less than a minute later to give the Marist some breathing space. A late St Mel’s surge of points was not enough as the Athlone college stuck it out for an impressive win. 

Marist College Athlone: Zac Mullally, Aidan Brennan, Tadgh Fallon, Gary Staunton, William Geraghty (1-0), Diarmuid O’Higgins, Jacob Bourke, Adam Smyth, Donal Dawson (0-1), Darragh Lough (0-1), Sean Whittaker (0-2), John Timlin, Cian Duffy (1-1), James McHugh (2-7, 2 frees, 1 two pointer free), Sean McDonnell.

Subs used: Andrew Henson for W Geraghty (34 mins), Darragh Murray for D Lough (49 mins), Darragh Glennon for J Timlin (54 mins), Andrew Cotton for A Smyth (stoppage time)

St Mel’s College: Adam McCormack (Bornacoola); Ezekial DaCosta (Longford Slashers), Billy Maguire (Longford Slashers), Cian Gilna (Killoe); Michael Gacquin (Clonguish, 0-2), Mark Cooney (Clonguish, 0-2, one ‘45), Cathal Lynch (Clonguish, 0-2); James Shannon (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Conor Doherty (Killoe); Jack Finnegan (Grattans), Conor Reynolds (Bornacoola, 0-1), Michael Glennon (Clonguish); Senan Buckley (Clonguish), James Hagan (Clonguish, 1-7, 6 frees), Adam McCarthy (Killoe). 

Sub used: Oisin McHugh (Grattans) for S Buckley (half-time). 

Referee: Bernard Heaney (Clann Na nGael, Co. Meath).