Longford college St Mel’s suffer a very heavy defeat in Leinster
Leinster Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship Group Stage - Round 2
St Aidan’s Whitehall (Dublin) . . . 10-13 St Mel’s College . . . 2-11
St Mel’s College suffered a very heavy defeat against rampant Dublin opponents St Aidan’s Whitehall in the Leinster Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship clash at the Whitehall Colmcilles GAA grounds on Tuesday.
St Mel’s now face a real uphill battle as they must defeat St Peter’s Dunboyne comprehensively in their other group game on November 3rd to keep alive their slim hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage.
St Aidan’s clinical forward line inflicted major damage as they were ruthless in front of goal when chances came their way.
Despite an early flurry of goals from their opponents, St. Mel’s fought back with points from Gavin Donohue (2), Oisin McHugh and team captain Michael Gacquin with 20 minutes gone on the clock.
James Flynn then converted a free for the boys in blue before Gacquin pointed again.
St Aidan’s defender Matthew Smith was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card for a high challenge and Dylan O’Neill pointed the resulting free.
Flynn converted another free to close the gap back to 7 points at the break, 3-6 to 0-8.
Substitute Senan Buckley was on target for a two pointer from play in the early stages of the second half and then converted a penalty goal moments later.
But Mel’s did not score for another 15 minutes and that gave Scoil Aodhan the opportunity to pull away and win with such ease.
Substitute Darragh Connolly split the posts with a good score before full-forward Oisin McHugh found the net from a close range free for a consolation goal.
St Mel’s College: Emanuel Gospic (Grattans); Sam Elliott (Clonguish), Cathal Lynch (Clonguish), Sean Hagan (Clonguish); Michael Gacquin (Clonguish, 0-2), Adam McCormack (Bornacoola), Patrick Reynolds (Killoe); Ruairi Gibbons (Fr Manning Gaels), Sean O’Boyle (St Barry’s, Roscommon); Aidan Mollahan (St Brigid’s Killashee), Dylan O’Neill (Killoe, 0-1, free), James Flynn (Clonguish, 0-2, 2 frees); Conor Shannon (Killoe), Oisin McHugh (Grattans, 1-1), Gavin Donohue (Killoe, 0-2).
Subs used: Senan Buckley (Clonguish, 1-2, two pointer from play, goal from penalty) for C Lynch (injured, 26 mins); Darragh Connolly (Fr Manning Gaels, 0-1) for C Shannon (half time); Charlie Maguire (Longford Slashers) for S Elliott and Ryan Murphy (Clonguish) for A Mollahan (44 mins); Ruairi Flynn (Clonguish) for D O’Neill (46 mins); Obed Bonsu (Longford Slashers) for R Gibbons (51 mins).