Mountmellick CS clinch Leinster SFC ‘D’ title with convincing win over Scoil Chaitríona

Leinster PPS Senior Football ‘D’ Final 

Mountmellick CS 4-13 

Scoil Chaitríona 1-3 

MOUNTMELLICK Community School were crowned Leinster Senior Football ‘D’ champions on Friday after a dominant performance against Scoil Chaitríona at St Loman’s 4G pitch in Mullingar.

The outcome was all but settled by half-time, with Mountmellick racing into a 2-4 to 0-2 lead despite facing a strong wind. The second half saw the Laois school control the game with Oisin Hade showing his class as he scored two two-pointers as well as setting up Sean Lalor for a goal late on.

The opening score came courtesy of a Scoil Chaitríona error. Penalised for overcarrying just outside the 40-metre arc, the Dubliners gifted Mountmellick a chance which Eoghan Lalor calmly converted, splitting the posts against the wind. Sean Lalor quickly followed with another score, putting Mountmellick three points clear inside the first five minutes.

Scoil Chaitríona responded with a free from Jack Ó Brogáín, but Shane Conran replied for Mountmellick before Ó Brogáín added a second, leaving the score at 0-4 to 0- after 14 minutes.

Mountmellick then delivered a decisive burst, scoring two goals in a three-minute spell. Ian Dunne forced a mistake from goalkeeper Alex Ó Duinn and slotted the ball into an empty net. Shortly after, Tadhg Hughes was credited with a goal when his effort across the goal-line was deflected into the net by Scoil Chaitríona’s Ryan Ó Conaill, though the ball appeared destined for the net. Scoil Chaitríona had a chance of their own during this period when Blake Ó Broin went one-on-one with James Smyth but failed to convert, much to the disappointment of their supporters.

With a 2-4 to 0-2 advantage at the interval and the wind at their backs, Mountmellick controlled the second half from the outset. Conran added his second free before Hughes grabbed his second goal, assisted by Dunne. Oisín Hade then scored a two-pointer as Scoil Chaitríona struggled to clear the ball from their own half in challenging wind conditions.

Scoil Chaitríona managed a third point through Oscar Ó Briain on 51 minutes, but by then the contest was effectively settled. Mountmellick added further scores, with Hade and Conran both finding the target, while substitute Ben De Brugha netted a consolation goal for the Dublin school.

Mountmellick finished the match emphatically, adding 1-4 without reply to seal the victory. Hade ended with four points from play, and substitute Jack Mahon also got on the scoresheet. Scoil Chaitríona finished the game with 14 players after Bailey Mac Liam was shown a black card in the 61st minute.

Hade later added another orange flag to his name from a long-range free and played a pivotal role in Mountmellick’s fourth goal, sending a precise pass to Sean Lalor after Ó Duinn was caught off his line, allowing Lalor an easy finish into the net.

SCORERS:

Mountmellick CS: Oisin Hade 0-6 (1tp, 1 tpf), Tadhg Hughes 2-0, Sean Lalor 1-1, Ian Dunne 1-0, Shane Conran 0-3 (0-2fs), Eoghan Lalor 0-2 (1tpf), Jack Mahon 0-1.

Scoil Chaitríona: Ben De Brugha 1-0, Jack Ó Brogáin 0-2 (0-1f), Oscar Ó Briain 0-1.

MOUNTMELLICK CS: James Smyth (Mountmellick); Ryan Doogan (Kilcavan), Dara Grehan (Na Fianna), Oran Masterson (Portlaoise); Aidan Byrne (Mountmellick), Cillin Hoey (Portarlington), Scott Kelly (Barrow Gaels); Oisin Hade (Mountmellick), Eoghan Lalor (Kilcavan); Oisin Dunne (Barrow Gaels), Tadhg Hughes (Kilcavan), Frank Delaney (The Rock); Ian Dunne (Kilcavan), Sean Lalor (Kilcavan), Shane Conran (Mountmellick).

Subs: Lorcan White (Kilcavan) for Doogan (26m), Oisin McRedmond (Portlaoise) for Dunne (37m), Jack Mahon (Mountmellick) for Hughes (52m), Senan O'Mahony (Mountmellick) for Smyth and Cian O'Neill (The Rock) for Delaney (both 56m).

SCOIL CHAITRÍONA: Alex O Duinn; Niall Ó hAlpín, Ryan O Raghallaigh, Carl O Baoill; Saul Mac Mibhric, Dara Ó Cinéide, Ryan O Conaill; Tadhg O Ceallachair, Tiarnan De Roiste; Oscar O Broin, Jack O Brogain, Senan Wylie; Blake O Broin, Jack Mac Caba, Charlie Mac Coisteala.

Subs: Jack Mac Raghnaill for Mac Caba (26m), Jude Ó Sé for Ó hAlpín (h/t), Ben De Brugha for Ó Broin (37m), Bailey Mac Leinn for Ó Conaill (43m).

Referee: Michael Gordon (Westmeath)