A LAST MINUTE free from Ben Brennan secured the Leinster IFC club title for Meath side St Colmcille’s yesterday.
Westmeath champions Rosemount, aided by a 38th minute goal from David McCormack, looked set for victory when they retook the lead with seven minutes remaining.
But Colmcille’s held their nerve and with county star Graham Reilly in fine scoring form, they did just about enough to bring the trophy home.
Colmcille’s led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval, thanks to a flurry of scores from teenager James Conlon, Brennan and Reilly.
Rosemount narrowed the gap in the second-half with McCormack’s goal, but Gerry Hickey’s side failed to lead by more than a point despite their superiority.
In a frantic closing ten minutes, the game was tied when Brennan floated over the winner from a placed ball, 25 yards out.
Reilly scored 0-4 from play while Brennan kicked three important frees for the victors, including that last-gasp winner. Former Munster flanker Niall Ronan played a full 60 minutes in the full-forward line.
Colmcille’s now have an All-Ireland series to look forward to after Christmas, before they return to senior ranks in Meath.
Scorers for St Colmcille’s: Ben Brennan (3f) 0-5; Graham Reilly 0-4; James Conlon 0-3; Ciaran Kelly (f) 0-1.
Scorers for Rosemount: David (Dude) McCormack (2f) 1-2; Boidu Sayeh (2f) 0-3; Andy McCormack 0-2; Declan Mullen and David (DD) McCormack (f) 0-1 each.
St Colmcille’s
Jordan Browne
Adam Lynch
Jamie McDonnell
Ciaran Ward
Eoin Woods
Ian Mullen
Joe Sweeney
Graham Reilly
Robbie McCloskey
Ciaran Kelly
Ben Brennan
David O’Byrne
David Sheeran
Niall Ronan
James Conlon.
Subs:
Conor O’Byrne for D O’Byrne
Jack Reynolds for C Kelly
Rosemount
Eoin Carberry
Damien Carroll
Eamon Boland
Darren King
Andy McCormack
Enda Boland
Boidu Sayeh
David (DD) McCormack
Israel Ilunga
Luke Kelly
Theo Watts
TJ Fox
David Tone
Declan Mullen
David (Dude) McCormack.
Subs:
David Maylnn for L Kelly
Plunkett Maxwell for TJ Fox
Cathal Daly for D (Dude) McCormack
Referee: S Mulhare (Laois).
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