O'Brien's cool finish brings cup back to Longford

Bring together the two schools that have dominated Leinster Colleges' football for the last 15 years and you expect a classic. Bring them together playing pure and fearless football and you get that and more.

What unfolded at the St Loman's grounds in Mullingar yesterday will surely be remembered as the finest of Leinster senior finals in many years, and not least because St Mel's won back the title after a nine-year absence.

With 30 titles the Longford school still has more honours than anyone, but to beat St Patrick's, winners in two of the last three finals, will always make 2003 stand among the best of them.

In a game played at break-neck speed and with total enthusiasm the outcome was far from decided until the final whistle. St Mel's held a marginal advantage for long periods, only for St Patrick's to fight back with typical Meath verve. And above all that was goalkeeper Pat Farrell, who from a St Mel's point of view kept the game alive from start to finish.

Still, with about six minutes remaining, St Patrick's edged a point in front. Then from nowhere and almost immediately St Mel's produced the decisive score. Adrian Murphy, who had slaved all afternoon at midfield, delivered a short pass to Joseph O'Brien. The St Patrick's defenders had briefly slackened and O'Brien stepped closer to goal and slipped the ball into the net. From nearly-beaten, they were now nearly there.

So for the last five minutes it was all hands on deck. Again and again the St Patrick's forwards moved menacingly towards the Longford goal, with James Finnerty and Barry Regan - moved up from midfield - a constant threat. Though the St Mel's full back line had rarely been their strongest point, now their walls stood solid.

Without a pause for breath it was obvious there would be little if any injury time, so when O'Brien sent over a point exactly on the hour - pushing St Mel's three points clear - it was a goal or nothing for St Patrick's.

Cue one final run at goal by team captain Sean Stephens. From 20 yards out he hits a pile driver that headed straight for the top corner, only for Farrell to intercept. It was his fifth example of brilliance between the posts, and justifiably earned the man-of-the-match plaudits from all the exiting St Mel's supporters.

For their commitment and total team-work St Mel's were deserving winners. Under the coaching of Jimmy Gacquin, who last summer took Longford to its first Leinster minor title since 1938, they employed a short-passing and free-flowing game that created a conveyor belt of scoring chances. That eagerness was particularly evident in the first half, which they closed 1-7 to 0-8 in front.

On the balance of forward play, however, St Patrick's had that bit more class. Finnerty's change of pace was unrivalled and Cian Ward's consistency with frees was also outstanding. When St Mel's pushed six points ahead early in the second half it was their combination that helped launch the counter-attack.

At full flow that response looked decisive. Lee Mulligan first levelled the scores and then Regan put them the one point ahead. The St Patrick's supporters hit full voice for the first time. But coach Colm O'Rourke had barely steadied himself on the sideline when St Mel's were back down the field in search of the winning score.

And though it was unseasonably warm in Mullingar, it was the cool finish of O'Brien that will be remembered down Longford way for many years to come.

ST MEL'S COLLEGE, LONGFORD: P Farrell; B Mahon, B McCormack, N Flynn; S Donoghue, E Williams, (capt), J Balfe; A Murphy (0-2), J McCormack; C Smith (0-6, five frees), C Cooney, M Tarmey (0-1); T Dalton (0-1), J O'Brien (2-2), C Williams (0-2). Subs: S Dowd for Mahon (20 mins), E Ward for Dalton (half time), B Guckian for Cooney (53 mins), D Gibbons for Tarmey (56 mins).

ST PATRICK'S CLASSICAL SCHOOL, NAVAN: D Jennings; C Reilly, K Reilly, A Curry; P Murray, C Kenny, G O'Brien; K Galligan, B Regan (0-1); S O'Toole (0-1), S Stephens, (capt, 0-1), A Hayes (0-2); L Mulligan (0-1), C Ward (0-7, five frees), J Finnerty (0-3). Subs: J Donegan (0-1) for Galligan (25 mins), K Murray for Mulligan (half time), S Crosby for Curry (44 mins).

Referee: N Cooney (Offaly).