Sport

Navan only an hour from title

The reigning Leinster Colleges champions, St Patrick's, Navan, easily qualified for the provincial final when they brushed aside…

Mon Feb 09 1998 - 00:00

The reigning Leinster Colleges champions, St Patrick's, Navan, easily qualified for the provincial final when they brushed aside the challenge of old rivals St Mel's of Longford at Portlaoise yesterday.

Aided by a strong breeze, the Meath college had two points in the opening four minutes, the first by Ian McManus and the second from John Lunney.

St Mel's opened their scoring with a point from a free by Tom Washington after eight minutes of play. The same player added a second point after 16 minutes, but two points in quick succession from Lunney and Hugh Gribbin left the Meath side ahead 0-5 to 0-2 after 17 minutes. St Patrick's missed a great chance of a goal minutes later. However, the next two minutes turned the game on its head. Left corner forward Lunney shot two goals to put the game beyond the Longford team's reach.

At half-time St Patrick's led 2-8 to 0-3.

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In the early minutes of the second half an exchange of points between Stephen Farrell and Declan Kearns still left 11 points between the sides. However, when St Patrick's centre half forward Kieran Macken punched home his side's third goal in the 40th minute, the game as a contest was well and truly over.

St Mel's did put in a spirited last quarter but could only manage two further points.

St Patrick's had outstanding players in Paul Waters, Gareth McGuinness, Robert Duffy, Ian McManus and Hugh Gribben. Best for St Mel's were Niall Rhattigan, Gareth Ghee and Shane Carroll.

ST PATRICK'S: D Nolan; T Flanagan, P Waters, W O'Brien; R Duffy, G McGuinness (0-1), M Mulvaney; I McManus (0-2), H Gribben (0-2); T Loughran, K Macken (1-0), I Murray; A Fox (0-1), D Kearns (0-3), J Lunney (2-2). Subs: K Folan for T Loughran; D Murray for T Flanagan; P Darcy for A Fox.

ST MEL'S: D Feeney; B Casey, D Glennon, N Rhatigan; G Ghee (0-1), S Carroll (0-2), C Murtagh; F O'Neill, P Casserly; C Guckian, M Kenny, J Duignan; S Farrell (0-1), W J McDermott, T Washington (0-3). Subs: E Martin for B Casey; F Farrell for F O'Neill; C McGovern for J Duignan.

Referee: B White (Wexford).