Ardscoil Phadraig, Granard find the going too tough against Athboy

11.02.10 | By Padraic O'Brien

After doing well to hold a slender 1-7 to 1-6 lead at the break, Ardscoil Phadraig, Granard found the going too tough in the second half as Meath opponents Athboy CS eventually asserted their superiority to run out easy winners in the North Leinster Schools Junior (U-16) 'D' Football Final at St. Loman's Lakepoint Park, Mullingar on Thursday last.

Ardscoil Phadraig had the better of the early exchanges to lead by 0-4 to 0-2 and after centre-half-back Michael McHugh surged forward to fire over the opening score in the first minute further points followed from David Stell, Anthony McBrien and Colin Sheridan – the latter cutting in from the right to land a well struck effort.

It was certainly a promising start by the Granard side but they suffered a setback when Athboy CS midfielder Colm Kearney grabbed a goal in the 8th minute to put his side in front by the minimum of margins, 1-2 to 0-4, with the earlier points coming from Cormac Foley and Killian Dillon (free).

Athboy went on to register another brace of points through Darragh Griffin and Dillon (free) and scores were then exchanged between Colin Sheridan (free) and Dillon (free) before the prominent wing forward Sheridan was on target again in the 20th minute to keep Ardscoil Phadraig in contention.

While Anthony Swaine replied with a point for Athboy, the Granard outfit showed a lot of spirit in the closing stages of the first half and the prominent Michael McHugh broke from the defence on a terrific penetrating run that created the opportunity for corner-forward Brian McGarry to find the back of the net in the 28th minute.

That well worked goal left the sides all square and there was still time for the completely unmarked David Stell to score a point for Ardscoil Phadraig before the break.

However, this slender advantage was never going to be enough as Athboy had the advantage of the stiff wind in the second half and were quickly into their stride.

Guilty of some poor finishing in the first half, the Meath side finally got their scoring act together but their cause was helped considerably by a soft goal as Caoimhin Griffin punished a mistake by the opposing keeper Conor Sheridan who fumbled a speculative effort from John Murray with four minutes gone on the changeover.

That dominant spell also yielded three points (two from play) by impressive centre-half-forward Killian Dillon, the Irish U-16 Soccer International who is on his way to a trial with English Championship side Derby County, while centre-half-back Aaron Ennis also shot over the bar to leave Athboy CS in a comfortable 2-10 to 1-7 lead.

All Ardscoil Phadraig could manage in the second half was a fine point from Colin Sheridan in the 40th minute and things went from bad to worse as they ended the game with 13 players after Jason Earley (51 mins) and Peter Walker (59 mins) were sent-off.

Athboy added another 3-2 to their emphatic tally during the remainder of the game with two of the goals coming from Niall Leonard, the second from a penalty in the 55th minute, while moments later John Murray also found the back of the net with a cracking strike after racing clean through.

The points came from Anthony Swaine and Caoimhin Griffin but Athboy were penalised for a lack of discipline when Killian Dillon received his marching orders late in the game.

ARDSCOIL PHADRAIG: Conor Sheridan; Sean Brady, Kevin Murphy, Peter Walker; Sean Brennan, Michael McHugh (0-1), Adam Mulcahy; Kevin Duffy, David Stell (0-2); Colin Sheridan (0-4, two frees), Tommy Moran, Jason Earley; Brian McGarry (1-0), Tommy Reilly, Anthony McBrien (0-1).

SUBS USED:- Hayden O'Reilly and John Brady.

ATHBOY CS: Aaron Ryan; Mark Chesser, James Moore, Alan Garry; Conor Buckley, Aaron Ennis (0-1), Christy Lynch; Anthony Swaine (0-2), Colm Kearney (1-0); John Murray (1-0), Killian Dillon (0-6, four frees), Niall Leonard (2-0, 1 penalty); Caoimhin Griffin (1-1), Cormac Foley (0-1), Darragh Griffin (0-1).

REFEREE: Sean Carroll (Westmeath).

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