St Pat’s clinch win in dramatic finale

THEY MAY have ridden their luck, but St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra will feel they deserved to qualify for the final of the Ulster Bank Trench Cup at the expense of Trinity College, Dublin at CIT yesterday.

When Barry Kennedy kicked his sixth point in the 53rd minute to put his side 0-9 to 0-6 ahead, Trinity looked to be on the way to victory, but St Pat’s, through captain Declan McKiernan and sub Cormac Rowe, forced extra-time.

There, they reeled off five unanswered points to leave Trinity too big a task, with Terry Smith’s point, TCD’s only score of the second period.

McKiernan kicked seven points while corner-forward Brian Downes’ purposeful running caused TCD problems all through.

The pattern of the game ebbed and flowed depending on who was winning the breaks, with both midfields enjoying periods of dominance. Pat’s led 0-4 to 0-1 after 24 minutes, but an Eoin Fanning-inspired Trinity were level at the break, and really took charge of the game in the second half.

Pat’s seemed to have no answer as the game slipped away from them, and three points in a row from Trinity between the 45th and 53rd minutes left Pat’s in trouble. Though two of those points were clawed back, Trinity had a glorious chance to wrap up the game in the 60th minute, but Conal O’Hanlon’s effort was stopped brilliantly by Shane Power and McKiernan saved his side with virtually the last kick of normal time.

Scorers for St Patrick’s: D McKiernan 0-7 (0-4f), S Smith, B Downes 0-2 each, S Denvir N Bannon, C Rowe 0-1 each.

Scorers for Trinity College: B Kennedy 0-6 (0-4f), E Fanning, T Smith 0-2 each.

ST PATRICK’S COLLGE: S Power (Kildare); J Cloherty (Mayo), L Shevlin (Louth), C Smyth (Longford); R McGinty (Dublin), A Whitney (Westmeath), M Brady (Cavan); O Doherty (Donegal), D McKiernan (Cavan); S Denvir (Galway), J Sheanon (Dublin), N Bannon (Westmeath); J Carroll (Donegal), S Smith (Monghan), B Downes (Dublin).

Subs: C Rowe (Meath) for Carroll (45), D Clarke (Dublin) for Cloherty (extra time).

TRINITY COLLEGE: D Byrne (Dublin); S Corr (Monaghan), P Kennedy (Meath), R Foley (Westmeath); N Barry (Dublin), A McAndrew (Kildare), A Hartnett (Dublin); A Hurley (Cork), M Brady (Cavan); O Coyle (Tyrone), E Fanning (Dublin), F Cork (Cavan); B Kennedy (Dublin), C O’Hanlon (Louth), K McGuckin (Tyrone).

Subs: T Smith (Cavan) for McGuckin (15, inj), J Lyons (Louth) for Corr (41), T Melvin (Mayo) for Hartnett (69).

Referee: R Moloney (Limerick).