Dundalk play like band of brothers

Dundalk Schools didn't hold back on the celebrations after this victory, and why not. They had just denied the best schoolboy side in the country a third successive Leinster football title, and with that written a glorious opening chapter in their own history.

Only last year the four Dundalk schools of Marist, Colβiste R∅s, De La Salle and Dundalk Grammar came together after their single challenges in Leinster proved insufficient. Yesterday in Drogheda they played more like a band of brothers than a recent amalgamation.

For St Patrick's it was a day to forget. And not just because of the drenching weather. Colm O'Rourke's side certainly had their chances but the desire and team spirit that brought them the last two All-Ireland titles rarely surfaced on this occasion.

But it would be wrong to say they were caught by surprise. The Dundalk team, trained by former Louth player Leslie Toal, had already issued significant warning on route to the final, dismissing the likes of Good Counsel and St Peter's, Wexford, along the way.

It was their will to win that proved most difficult to contend with. Both sides had to lower the skill emphasis because of the gusting wind and greasy conditions, yet Dundalk's effort was unyielding, despite conceding an obvious physical advantage to the Meath students.

The strong wind did play its role but not enough to excuse St Patrick's solitary point in the second half. Even with the wind in their backs they failed to find any grip on the game, kicking all their 11 wides in the first half.

Not surprisingly, though, St Patrick's did lead at the turnaround - 2-2 to 0-4. It could have been much more had any of their forwards used the wind advantage to its maximum, but instead their lead was built on two somewhat fortuitous goals.

Just when it appeared that Dundalk would defy all logic and actually end the first half narrowly in front, St Patrick's found the net twice in the last two minutes.

David Murtagh was awarded the first, though he hardly meant it. His free dropped in front of goal where Neil Gallagher should have collected, but instead he fumbled the ball into the net. It was an unlikely error by a goalkeeper who up to then had been a picture of confidence.

The second goal came when Colm Tolan left his marker in the blocks and cut loose front the left corner, dribbling the ball soccer-style up to the goal and then drilling it straight into the far corner.

With greater patience and composure St Patrick's could have established a far greater advantage. Joe Sheridan, so often their great scoring provider, was largely under-utilised with a single free 10 minutes in being his only real contribution. Dundalk's Shane Lennon was far more notable up to then, and he was playing into the wind.

Still, the pressure was now on Dundalk to convert the wind advantage into scores. After Lennon hit two in the first five minutes, and wing back Conor Sheridan popped up for another shortly afterwards, it was clear they would.

As a team St Patrick's were now falling apart. Murtagh and Sheridan failed to swing any of their attacking verve into motion and instead all that mounted was their frustration.

Then midway through the second half came the defining score. J J Quigley epitomised the Dundalk spirit by putting his heart into every kick, and his shot at goal from 30 yards out seemed certain of a point. Yet it went better and shot into the top corner of the net. Such was its power that the goalkeeper would have needed a ladder to stop it.

After that there was no way Dundalk would be denied.

DUNDALK SCHOOLS: N Gallagher; N Smyth, P Malone, C Sheridan (0-1); C Hoey, R Carroll, P Hearty; J Doyle, P Keenan (0-1); N Shevlin, JJ Quigley (1-0), S Kelly; S Lennon (0-5, three frees), D O'Connor, S Fee. Subs: D Macken for Smyth (half-time), J Molloy (0-1) for Fee (41 mins).

ST PATRICK'S, NAVAN: C Breslin; J geoghegan, E Donoghue, C Kenny; D Byrne, S Stephens, A Martin; B Regan, D O'Halloran; E Harrington, D Murtagh (1-0), F Harrington; E Brady, J Sheridan (0-1), C Tolan (1-2). Subs: H Finnegan for Brady (41 mins), L Geraghty for E Harrington (47 mins).

Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).