Robert Forde of Moate CS on the attack against Eóin O'Leary of St Peter's College, Wexford, during the 2017 Leinster SF 'A football final in Portlaoise. Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile.

Flashback... MCS have Leinster dreams dashed by St Peter’s

Kieran Galvin

Published: Thu 9 Feb 2023, 11:23 AM

Last updated: Thu 9 Feb 2023, 4:59 PM

With Moate Community School preparing to contest the Leinster Schools Senior Football ‘A’ final tomorrow (Friday), here is a look back at their previous appearance in the decider.

Moate Community School’s previous Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ final appearance was back in 2017 when they lost out to a strong outfit from St Peter's College, Wexford.

Moate defeated Good Counsel, New Ross in the semi-final on a 1-9 to 0-8 scoreline in Stradbally, with Robbie Forde scoring the crucial goal.

But another Wexford side, St Peter’s College, proved too strong in the final which was played at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Friday, January 27.

Future Wexford senior hurling star Rory O'Connor was chosen as the player of the match in the Westmeath Independent’s report on the final.

Rory’s first cousin Barry, son of legendary Wexford hurler George O'Connor, also played a leading role, scoring 1-4, while Cathal Devereux was top scorer with 1-5.

Jordan Nugent was described as the most impressive Moate CS player on the day, the goalkeeper making a number of good saves, with Ciaran Kelly having a fine game at wing-back. But it was a day when a number of MCS players only showed glimpses of their true ability.

Moate CS manager Peter Tormey was assisted by Anthony Cunningham (former Galway hurling and Roscommon boss) and Westmeath footballer Jamie Gonoud. For their part, St Peter's were managed by Wexford defensive ace Brian Malone.

The scorers and team line-ups from the 2017 Leinster final are provided below, along with the full Moate CS panel.

Scorers - St Peter's: C Devereux 1-5 (0-3f); B O'Connor 1-4 (0-3f); C Firman 0-2; R O'Connor and B Moore 0-1 each. Moate CS: S Pettit 0-3 (2f); R Forde 0-2 (2f); C Kelly and K Hartnett 0-1 each.

St Peter's College, Wexford: Richard Ryan; Eoin O'Leary, Ben Maddock, David O'Keefe; Quinn Saunders, Conor Firman (captain), Finn O'Driscoll; Brian Deeney, Rory O'Connor; David Gouldson, Ben Moore, Peter Barry; Dylan Lyne, Barry O'Connor, Cathal Devereux. Subs used: Dylan Furlong for Gouldson; Michael Codd for Lyne; Jack Devereux for Barry.

Moate Community School: Jordan Nugent; Charlie Parker, Luke Gavin Mangan, David Mullins; Ruairi Aspell, Kieran Hartnett, Ciaran Kelly; Sean Clinton, Paul Gorman; Harry Cornally (captain), David Fleming, Robbie Forde; Sean Farrell, Daniel Heavin, Sean Pettit. Subs used: Ben Cox for Mullins; Jack Bradbury Hughes for Clinton; Liam O'Neill for Farrell.

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).

Moate CS panel: Jordan Nugent (Castledaly), Darcy Lawless (Caulry), David Fleming (Clara), Sean Farrell (Tubber), Jack Bradbury Hughes (Caulry), Harry Cornally (Tubber), Daniel Heavin (Castledaly), Robbie Forde (Moate All Whites), Luke Gavin Mangan (Ballycumber), Sean Clinton (Caulry), Paul Gorman (Moate All Whites), Kieran Hartnett (Clara), Cathal Byrne (Rosemount), Colin Boland (Rosemount), Ben Cox (Rosemount), Ciaran Kelly (Maryland), Ian Daly (Tubber), Padraic Geoghegan (Rosemount), Cialan Dollard (Caulry), Colin Murphy (Caulry), Cameron Monaghan (Clara), Lorcan Daly (Rosemount), Liam O'Neill (Rosemount), Charlie Parker (Caulry), Patrick Farrell (Tubber), James Bracken (Moate All Whites), Kevin O'Flaherty (Caulry), Sean Pettit (Rosemount), David Mullins (Moate All Whites), Neil Clinton (Caulry), Padraig Nestor (Rosemount), Ruairi Aspell (Maryland), Kevin Stone (Castledaly).

*See here for preview of this year's Leinster Schools SF 'A' final.