Heartbreak for Moate CS in thrilling clash

A 54th-minute goal from Coláiste Eoin substitute Conor " Duibhir proved to be the decisive score as Moate Community School bowed out of the Leinster Colleges senior football 'A' championship by the narrowest of margins after an enthralling penultimate round tie at Páirc Tailteann last Saturday afternoon. The Moate lads were pre-match favourites and they often looked the better side in what proved to be a ding-dong contest in Navan. However, the oft-used cliché that 'goals win games' rang true at around 2.15pm on Saturday, with the losers' 14-point haul insufficient to progress to a provincial final against old rivals St Mary's, Edenderry. Two astute substitutions proved crucial for the metropolitans, with the aforementioned " Duibhir and their other replacement, Cian " Ceallacháin (a son of Westmeath dual player in the mid-1980s, Maurice O'Callaghan) notching 1-2 between them. Moate had late chances to snatch at least a draw, particularly in the dying seconds when Luke Kelly looked certain to score the equalising a point, before being dispossessed as he bore down on goal (perhaps sensing that a three-pointer was on the cards). Overall, this was a heartbreaking defeat for Peter Tormey's charges, who were fancied in many quarters to bring back the glory days of colleges football from the 1970s and early 1980s to the town of Moate. Moate CS had great support in Páirc Tailteann, probably outnumbering that of the other three schools combined, for the first of last Saturday's double-header. Coláiste Eoin had the advantage of the wind blowing into the scoreboard end of the ground and they had a point on the board within 40 seconds - a classy effort from Daithí " Cathmhaoil. Niall O'Brien soon equalised from a close-range free (moved forward by the referee, as he did on numerous occasions throughout the match). Conal " Néill and David McCormack traded points from frees, but the latter player began to dominate the midfield exchanges and Moate were rewarded with three unanswered points by the midpoint of the first moiety, the first two from overlapping wing-back John Rock, and the third via his twin brother, Martin. In the 16th minute, Conal " Néill popped over a free and ten scoreless minutes ensued during which staunch Moate defending allied to some profligacy in attack by Coláiste Eoin ensured a break for the umpires. Daithí " Cathmhaoil scored the winners' fourth point at the end of a patient move and, with two minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, a Moate error was pounced on by the Dubliners with Oisín " Ruairc and Conal " Néill combining to tee up Maitias Mac Donncha for a well-taken goal. At the other end, John Rock rounded off a fine move to score his third point and David McCormack was narrowly wide from a '45' in the 30th minute after his shot for a goal had been blocked. At the break, Coláiste Eoin led by 1-4 to 0-6. Half-time replacement, Cian " Ceallacháin made an immediate impression with a 34th-minute point, but two successful Cian Bradley frees soon tied up the scoring. Coláiste Eoin were starting to win the midfield battle and points from Daithí " Cathmhaoil (a routine free) and Jamie Clintiún (a low-trajectory shot from the right half back) edged them ahead. However, by the 48th minute, Moate were back in front courtesy of points from Martin Rock, Cian Bradley (free) and Luke Kelly (a wonderful score). Colm " Cróinín and Niall O'Brien (a terrific shot from 40 metres) exchanged points, but a great goal from Conor " Duibhir (after receiving a pass from Maitias Mac Donncha) and a neat point from his fellow-substitute, Cian " Ceallacháin, put the winners three points ahead with five minutes remaining. All-out attacks from the eventual losers yielded two converted frees from the boots of Cian Bradley and Niall O'Brien. A rushed free from Bradley came to nothing before David McCormack was dismissed for a second yellow card offence on the stroke of 60 minutes. Deep into added-time, Luke Kelly was stopped in his tracks close to the winners' goalmouth and the final whistle sounded within seconds, much to the disappointment of all concerned with this talented Moate CS side. Scorers - Coláiste Eoin: C " Duibhir and M Mac Donncha 1-0 each, D " Cathmhaoil 0-3 (1f), C " Néill (2fs) and C. " Ceallacháin 0-2 each, C. " Cróinín and J. Clintiún 0-1 each. Moate CS: C Bradley 0-4 (4fs), N O'Brien (2fs) and J Rock 0-3 each, M Rock 0-2, L Kelly and D McCormack (f) 0-1 each. Coláiste Eoin: Lúc " Ceallaigh; Colm " Fainín, Lúc " Treasaigh, Seán " Caomhánaigh; Jamie Clintiún, Emmett " Dochartaigh, Cillian " Fearghaile; Roibéard Mac Daibhíd, Oisín Breathnach; Ruairí " Meachair, Maitias Mac Donncha, Colm " Cróinín; Conal " Néill, Daithí " Cathmhaoil, Oisín " Ruairc. Subs: Cian " Ceallacháin for " Meachair (h/t), Conor " Duibhir for " Caomhánaigh (41). Moate Community School: Joe Kinahan; Jack O'Kelly-Lynch, Lee Colgan, Robert Gorman; John Rock, James Ganley, Patrick Holloway; David McCormack, Luke Kelly; Ciaran Allen, Cian Bradley, Martin Rock; Adam Scanlon, Niall O'Brien, Lorcan Dolan. Subs: Eoin Coughlan for Scanlon (39), Eric Fallon for Allen (58). Referee: Joe Curley (Meath).