ST PATRICK'S Classical School, Navan, coached by Colm O'Rourke, won their third Leinster Colleges Senior Football title when they overcame St Mel's, of Loagford, at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday.
Ia a tense final, watched by 4,000, St Patrick's were usually on top and had enough in hand to hold off a last gasp rally from the Longford team.
The tie was marred by an incident late in the second half when a St Mel's team official, Declan Rowley, and the side's corner forward, Donal Brennan, both ended up on the ground. While the incident went unpunished by the match official, a St Patrick's defender was later spoken to by a garda.
Having taken an early four point lead thanks to the impressive Ciaran Macken, Colm Travers (two) and Cyril Carty, St Patrick's allowed St Mel's to come strong in the second quarter. Points were scored by Padraig Shanley (two), Tommy Washington, Willie Skelly and Dessie Dolan, with Ian McManus and Keith Callaghan maintaining St Patrick's advantage.
In a hectic end to the half, St Mel's were given a penalty, duly scored by Washington, to tie the game at 1-5 to 0-8 at the interval.
After Keith Callaghan and Skelly exchanged early second half points, Shanley put St Mel's ahead for the only time. However points from Callaghan again and Colm Travers regained the initiative.
Following a delay in play caused by the unsavoury incident, Trevor Ratty and Keith Callaghan, with a brace, put St Patrick's on course for victory. St Mel's staged a late rally but three points from Shanley and Dessie Dolan (two) failed to redress the balance.
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