Finian’s fail to deliver while Moate CS drive on with another victory

By Robbie Holloway Moate Community School's U-16 boys had a comfortable victory away to St Finian's in the Leinster Schools 'B' championship recently. Following a 16-point victory over Colaiste Choilm in their opening game of the championship, the Moate lads once again produced an impressive performance, despite the cold and frosty winter weather conditions. A second-half goal by Caulry's Robert Hickey sealed the victory as Moate CS ran out convincing winners in the end. With Luke Kelly absent due to a leg injury, Adam Scanlon had big shoes to fill in the middle of the park. The first moiety was one of low scores and many wides, as the match took a significant amount of time to warm up. At last, Finian's registered the first score of the game with a pointed free. The following kick-out saw one of the St Finian's midfielders making a high catch and playing the ball to their number 12, who scored another point for the Mullingar side. John Corbally was thankfully on form as he played the ball simply to secure Moate's first point. As a result of great defending, Robert Gorman and Paul Henson got their hands on the ball, moving it swiftly up the field towards Castledaly's Lorcan Dolan and Ciaran Allen, before wing-forward John Corbally made it two points apiece with 12 minutes left in the first half. Full-back Joe Kinahan was to take Moate's first '45' of the day, his shot landing just shy of the goals and the Finian's defence cleared the ball away from the danger area. A free awarded to Moate saw Ciaran Allen score his first point of the afternoon. Finian's replied with their third and final point of the half when their centre-forward put the ball over the bar as a result of a free. But Allen was not finished his scoring exploits in the first half yet, landing another fine point, leaving the half-time scoreboard reading MCS 0-4 St Finian's 0-3. Moate wasted no time in stamping their dominance on the game in the second half. Lorcan Dolan created the first score of the second period with a great point. An early '45' gave Joe Kinahan the opportunity to score a brilliant point. Then great play in midfield enabled Lorcan Dolan to set up Robert Hickey, who hammered the ball to the back of the net, scoring the first and only goal of the game. Dolan displayed his creative skills once again, this time for Adam Scanlon to put his name on the scoresheet, after Gorman's great ball in initially set up the attack. At this stage, the boys in black and red were unstoppable and the situation grew ominous for the home side. Ballycumber/Tubber's Ciaran Allen soon added to the scoresheet when he pointed a free. Stephen Woods' good ball paved the way for wing-forward Sam Moran's point. Moran doubled his tally after John Corbally set him up, stretching the margin to 10 points. Moate's lead made them slightly greedy as they were going all out for a second goal. It looked as if Finian's were going be brutally beaten, having not scored in the second period, yet midway through the second moiety, the Mullingar boys responded with two fine points in a row, reducing the deficit to eight points. Substitutions at 50 minutes remaining saw Louie Duffy and James Farrell get a run for the visitors, replacing Stephen Woods and Peter Cunningham. After a high catch at midfield, Andy McCormack (Rosemount) got the scoreboard ticking again for Moate with a fantastic point. Peter Cunningham was called on again to replace the injured Joe O'Meara after 55 minutes. Lorcan Dolan wrapped up the game with the final point of the game. On the day, there were several fine performances on the Moate team, particularly from Ciaran Allen, Robert Gorman, Andrew McCormack, Lorcan Dolan and John Corbally. MOATE CS: Dean Tyrell; Theo Watts, Joe Kinahan (0-1), Peter Cunningham; Paul Henson, Joe O'Meara, Robert Gorman; Adam Scanlon (0-1), Andrew McCormack (0-1); Sam Moran (0-2), Lorcan Dolan (0-2), John Corbally (0-2); Ciaran Allen (0-3), Robert Hickey (1-0), Stephen Woods. Subs: James Farell for Cunningham (50 mins), Louie Duffy for Woods (50), Peter Cunningham for J O'Meara (55 ). Subs not used: Luke Kelly (injured), Philip Ganly, James Pettit, Neil Young, Brian Sheridan, Dylan Fitzpatrick, James Langan, Shane Colgan and Darren O'Connor. REFEREE: Declan Hogan (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge).