Heartbreak for St Mel’s College in agonising Leinster exit

Matthew Flynn pictured in action for St Mel’s against Moate CS. Flynn scored the magnificent total of 12 points (9 frees) in the narrow defeat in the Leinster SFC semi-final Photo: Syl Healy

placeholder image — Matthew Flynn pictured in action for St Mel’s against Moate CS. Flynn scored the magnificent total of 12 points (9 frees) in the narrow defeat in the Leinster SFC semi-final Photo: Syl Healy

Leinster Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship Semi-Final

Moate Community School . . . 2-10 St Mel’s College . . . 0-15

Despite the outstanding display by centre-half forward Matthew Flynn with the captain shooting the magnificent total of 12 points (9 frees), St Mel’s somehow managed to lose a thrilling semi-final clash at The Downs GAA grounds on Tuesday.

The Longford college were five points in front at the break (0-11 to 1-3) after playing with the advantage of the significant wind in the first half but the physically stronger Moate side staged a great comeback on the changeover to eventually emerge victorious in a very tense and exciting finish.

The Westmeath school gradually closed the gap and it looked all over when Conaire Martin scored the crucial second goal in the 51st minute to leave his team leading by 2-9 to 0-12.

St Mel’s, to their credit, battled back to level matters with three points in a row through Matthew Flynn (frees) but Moate snatched the winning score from a well struck free converted by Eoin Bracken in stoppage time.

There was one last chance for St Mel’s to keep their Leinster Championship hopes alive when they were awarded a free but the unfortunate Matthew Flynn slipped when taking the kick and the danger was cleared.

MOATE COMMUNITY SCHOOL: James Mitchell; Tom Gorman, Adam Keane, Cathal Guinan; Adam Daly, Donal Shirley (0-1), Aodhán Curran; Daragh Lowry, David O’Reilly (1-3, 1 free); Conaire Martin (1-0), Eoin Bracken (0-5, 4 frees), Padraig McLoughlin; Tiernan O’Donovan (0-1), Conor Fox, Ronan Murray.

Subs:- Dean O’Neill for P McLoughlin (stoppage time); Aaron Murphy for T O’Donovan (stoppage time).

ST MEL’S COLLEGE: Caolan Hussey (Mostrim); Conor Smith (Clonguish), Adam Donnelly (Killoe), Gavin Farrelly (Killoe, 0-1): James Connell (Mostrim), Ross Shields (Clonguish), Cormac Harte (Killoe); Matthew Carey (Clonguish, 0-2), Jonathan Burke (Clonguish); Ronan Courtney (Mostrim), Matthew Flynn (Clonguish, 0-12, 9 frees), Andrew Flynn (Clonguish); Michael Flynn (Clonguish), Harry Mulvihill (Grattans), Paddy Moran (Killoe).

Subs:- Jack Belton (Mostrim) for H Mulvihill (half-time); Kevin Baskett (Clonguish) for C Harte (52 mins).

Referee: David Sweeney (Dublin).