Farrell stands firm as Mel’s grab glory

St Mel’s, Longford 2-14 St Pat’s, Navan 0-17

St. Mel’s became Leinster colleges SFC champions for the first time in 11 years because of a string of stunning saves from goalkeeper Pat Farrell. He bookended a colleges classic with two wonderful stops, both coincidentally from St Pat’s Sean Stephens.

Of all the gallant Navan players, defeat was toughest on Stephens. The Navan captain drove his team forward all game, but found Farrell too impenetrable an obstacle.

In the first minute, seconds after Andrew Hayes put Navan ahead, Stephens found himself at the end of a move that carved Mel’s defence open. In stark contrast to his full-back line, Farrell was commanding and decisive and flung his body in front of Stephens’ goalbound shot. Then, in the dying seconds, with a goal between the teams, Stephens made another of his menacing runs, thumped a pile-driver towards the net. But again Farrell was alert and agile enough to deflect the flight of the ball.

Not that Farrell was all Mel’s had to offer. Talent is evenly spread across the Longford side. Joe O’Brien scored two smashing goals, Colin Smith is a free-taker of some quality and Adrian Murphy, despite a poor second-half, drove his team forward in the first. They play with a vim and vigour reminiscent of the Longford minors Jimmy Gacquin took to the Leinster title last year.

It’s no surprise to learn Gacquin is the Mel’s coach - his influence is evident throughout the team.

And yet, they could have lost. Navan burst into an early lead, with Hayes and James Finnerty looking like they were going to damage the insecurity of the Longford full-back line. But within three minutes, Mel’s were a point ahead after two fine scores from Murphy.

By the 12th minute, Mel’s had firmly established their dominance when O’Brien feinted past one marker and drove the ball hard and low into the bottom corner.

Although O’Brien’s goal put Mel’s five points ahead, Pat’s worked their way back into the game. The persistent work of Stephen O’Toole and the cool finishing of Cian Ward meant Pat’s were only a goal behind when Farrell made his third fine save in the 14th minute.

Colin Smith and Cian Ward traded scores until the interval, with Mel’s 1-7 to 0-8 ahead.

And the Longford side kept on a similar track after the break, Smith nailing three frees and setting up Ciaran Williams for another score, as Mel’s went six points ahead, 1-12 to 0-9. Just when it looked like another point would have sealed victory, Pat’s battled back in typical Meath vein.

Barry Regan moved to full-forward and scored one point and won three fress, which Ward nailed, within six minutes. Ward and Smith traded frees to keep two points between them.

James Finnerty scored the point of the game in the 52nd minute, a fantastic score from a difficult angle, and when O’Toole equalised moments later, it looked like Mel’s had let the game slip.

Step forward O’Brien again, who latched onto the burrowing work of Murphy, tricked one defender and slotted the ball coolly to the net. The full-forward embellished his display with a point soon afterwards.

All that was left was for Pat Farrell to save Mel’s day. And he duly obliged.

Scorers: St Mel’s: J O’Brien (2-2), C Smith (0-6, 5 frees), C Williams, A Murphy (0-2 each), M Tarmey, T. Dalton (0-1 each)

St Pat’s: C Ward (0-7, 5 frees), J. Finnerty (0-3), A Hayes (0-2), J. Donegan, S. Stephens, B. Regan, S. O’Toole, L. Mulligan (0-1 each)

ST MEL’S: P Farrell; B Mahon, B McCormack, N Flynn, S. Donoghue, E Williams(capt), J Balfe; A Murphy, J. McCormack; C Smith, C Cooney, M Tarmey, T Dalton, J. O’Brien, C Williams. Subs: S. Dowd for Mahon(19 mins), E. Ward for Dalton (h-t), D. Gibbons for Tarmey (56), B. Guckian for Cooney (53)

ST. PAT’S: D Jennings; C Reilly, K Reilly, A Curry, P. Murray, C Kenny, G O’Brien; B Regan, K Galligan; S. O’Toole, S Stephens, A Hayes, L Mulligan, C Ward, J. Finnerty. Subs: J Donegan for Galligan(25 mins), K. Mulrany for Mulligan(h-t), S Crosby for Curry (44 ).

Referee: N. Cooney (Offaly)