Matthew the Darling for Athlone with last gasp goal
by Kieran Galvin Updated: Wednesday, 18th January, 2012 5:30pm
Athlone CC 1-7 Salesian College 0-9
For Athlone CC, this victory was achieved in the sweetest fashion imaginable - but for Salesian College, it was a gut-wrenching defeat.
With Athlone CC trailing by two points deep into injury-time, David Brookes intercepted a pass out of the Salesian defence and passed inside to Matthew Darling. The wing-forward still had a lot to do, but he found the corner of the net with a delightfully precise finish. It sparked jubilation in the Athlone CC ranks and the Celbridge boys were unable to conjure an equaliser.
This was the type of game which showed why the Leinster Colleges championship can be such an enthralling competition. Two evenly matched teams went toe to toe, with a dramatic twist in the dying minutes.
Athlone CC famously won the Leinster title in 2008 and while this team may not possess as much star quality, this hard-earned victory should give them a major confidence lift.
Salesian College were bitterly disappointed to lose in such agonising circumstances, but they accepted their defeat in sporting fashion.
Dense fog accompanied those who travelled to Celbridge from Athlone on Friday last, but it was thankfully absent at the Salesian College school grounds, where the pitch was well-manicured and a credit to the hosts.
After a fine block by ACC full-back Brian Shaughnessy thwarted a Celbridge attack, Caulry's David Brookes opened the scoring at the other end. Celbridge wing-forward Craig Mooney equalised in the third minute. Ronan Byrne was already looking dangerous in the Salesian full-forward line and he drew the foul which led to a pointed free by Celbridge midfielder Paddy Brophy.
Brookes also looked capable of causing mischief when he got possession, though he was narrowly off target with an early scoring chance. In the 11th minute, ACC midfielder Ruairdhi McManus (Clann na nGael) landed a great point to draw the sides level, following a neat dummy solo. Good work by Ronan Daly set up Senan Farrell and his blasted shot was tipped over the bar by Salesian 'keeper Sean Holmes.
The exchanges continued in nip and tuck style with Brophy notching an excellent point for Celbridge from long range. Salesian wing-forward Shane Ryan was then possibly unlucky not to be awarded a free-in. At the other end, Brookes failed to apply the finishing touch to a flowing move which was initiated by McManus.
Towards the end of the first half, Niall Finneran and Tomás Gilleran's charges got on top with their rearguard getting to grips with the threat of Byrne and co. ACC had brought corner-forward Senan Farrell back into defence as a sweeper and this tactic proved quite effective at this stage.
Ray Connellan's pass found wing-back Eoin Fallon who put ACC ahead and, in the 27th minute, Ronan Donohoe put two between the sides for the first time. The visitors held on to this advantage until half-time (0-5 to 0-3).
Kevin Malone and Paddy McGovern's Celbridge side wasted no time in showing their intent upon the restart. Within 20 seconds, Ronan Byrne clipped over a stylish point, and then a very harsh decision against Brian Shaughnessy, enabled Brophy to draw the sides level. A superb block by ACC substitute Martin Flannery denied the ever-menacing Byrne, but Ray Connellan then missed a scoreable free at the other end. In such a tight game, it looked like a potentially costly miss.
Shane Ryan put his side in front after gobbling up a punched clearance by ACC goalie Michael McMahon. After McManus was unlucky not to level the scores, Brophy landed his fourth point, leaving Celbridge 0-7 to 0-5 ahead.
ACC's first score of the second half finally arrived in the 49th minute, Dermot Donnelly coming forward to notch a vital score. Lifted by this intervention, the Westmeath side were level a couple of minutes later, thanks to a splendid point by full-forward Ronan Donohoe.
Shane Ryan was highly fortunate not to receive a second yellow card for a heavy challenge on Ronan Daly, before Holmes superbly fetched Ray Connellan's delivery.
Mooney edged Salesian back in front in the 25th minute and what seemed a decisive moment arrived a couple of minutes later. Connellan hit a peach of a pass towards Brookes whose lay-off found Martin Flannery. The No 17 cracked a blistering shot off the crossbar and Celbridge managed to scramble the ball away. Perhaps a point would have been a better option, but Flannery was incredibly unlucky.
Ronan Byrne then sent over what seemed the insurance point but, shortly afterwards, Byrne missed a chance to put his side three ahead. In the final analysis, this would prove crucial.
ACC were on the ropes, yet they refused to surrender and after the alert Brookes won the ball back, Matthew Darling did the rest.
The referee quite rightly played five minutes of injury time, but Athlone managed to keep the ball in the Celbridge half before the final whistle brought relief mixed with joy.
Scorers
Athlone CC: M Darling 1-0; R Donohoe 0-2; D Brookes, R McManus, D Donnelly, S Farrell and E Fallon 0-1 each.
Salesian College: P Brophy 0-4 (3f); R Byrne and C Mooney 0-2 each; S Ryan 0-1.
Athlone Community College:
Michael McMahon; Jack Donohue, Brian Shaughnessy, John Burke; Dermot Donnelly, Ronan Daly, Eoin Fallon; Ruairdhi McManus, Ray Connellan; Matthew Darling, Ronan Morris, Conor Mulry; Senan Farrell, Ronan Donohoe, David Brookes. Subs: Martin Flannery for E Fallon (inj.); Eoin Donohoe for R Donohoe.
Salesian College, Celbridge:
Sean Holmes; Brian Nolan, Emmett Conaty, Brian Flynn; John Costelloe, Dylan Corcoran, Rob Cheasty; Jason Doran, Paddy Brophy; Craig Mooney, Ryan Harding, Shane Ryan; Ronan Byrne, Shane O'Flynn, Barry O'Donovan. Subs: Paul Martin for Cheasty; Tom McGoldrick for Harding.
Referee:
Philip Carr (Dublin).
