Sport

Finnegan goal nets final spot

Colleges Leinster SFC: St Patrick's Classical School, Navan, and Knockbeg College will contest the Leinster Colleges senior …

Mon Feb 16 2004 - 00:00

Colleges Leinster SFC: St Patrick's Classical School, Navan, and Knockbeg College will contest the Leinster Colleges senior football final on March 6th, in Tullamore, after both schools came through tight semi-final encounters over the weekend.

The Colm O'Rourke-trained St Pat's beat St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge, 1-12 to 1-8, in Mullingar on Saturday. Henry Finnegan scored the vital late goal that completed the double over their Westmeath rivals as they also beat them in the league last month.

With Denis Glennon in fine form - he eventually finished with six points - St Joseph's went in at the break leading 1-4 to 0-6. However, scores from Cathal O'Dwyer and Shane O'Rourke gave the Meath youths some vital breathing space before Finnegan's late strike.

They will be favourites to go one better than last year's final defeat to St Mel's but they will face a strong Knockbeg outfit in the final.

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The Carlow school beat Moyne CS, 0-11 to 1-6, thanks to two late points from David Conway as they staged a fine late rally in an exciting game in Mullingar on Saturday. They had trailed by 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

Three of last year's All-Ireland winning Laois minors are part of their line-up: Colm Begley, Ian Fleming and Donal Brennan, with the former overcoming an ankle injury to kick two points for his side.

Moyne led 1-5 to 0-4 at the break but strong performances from Shane O'Neill, Colin Begley and Paddy Kelly helped turn the tide.

KNOCKBEG: C Munnelly; K O'Neill, P Kelly, M Stapleton; B Cox, C Begley, D Lynskey; S Murphy (0-2), S O'Neill (0-1); C Doran, D Brennan (0-2), B Byrne; S O'Shea (0-2), I Fleming, D Conway (0-4).

MOYNE CS: S Watters; K Reilly, D McGlad, D Boucher; D Sheridan, D Masterson, P Faughnan; L Gill, R Galigan (1-1); M Duffy, C Duffy, K Kane; B Brady (0-1), F McGee (0-4), J McNally.

ST PATRICK'S: D Clare; C McGuinness, K Reilly, N McMahon; P Murray, C Kenny, W Donegan; S O'Rourke (0-1), B Meade (0-1); S O'Toole (0-1), H Finnegan (1-3), D Corcoran; K Mulvaney, C Ward (0-5), P Smyth. Subs: C O'Dwyer (0-1) for Mulvaney.

ST JOSEPH'S: S Gallagher; H Burke, S Hannon, J Lynch; R Foley, TJ Gonoud, M McAdden; B Smyth, G Hoey (0-1); G Hickey, D Glennon (0-6, three frees), D Price; A Devine, AJ Murray (1-1), D Mooney.