St Patrick's send out signal of intent with classy show

COLLEGES GAA/ Leinster SFC quarter final: The sense of vindication was evident all around Páirc Tailteann yesterday. A year ago St Patrick's, Navan let slip their dominance in Leinster Colleges football, and with it their chance of a third successive All-Ireland title.

Two games away from winning back the Leinster title, this performance couldn't have been much bolder in its warning to the remaining contenders - including those for the All-Ireland title.

For St Declan's, Cabra, it made for a trying afternoon. Though the final score reflected harshly on their efforts, there was no hiding their general inability to cope with the strength of St Patrick's. In the forward line in particular St Patrick's were simply a class above.

Given the setting of the match (i.e. a Meath team against a Dublin team, in Meath) it was hardly surprising that hard hits sometimes won out over pretty scores. While the first half was generally free-flowing and competitive, a general untidiness took over in the closing stages as St Declan's became increasingly frustrated with the superiority of their opponents.

If any team does manage to beat St Patrick's then defensively they'll need to be rock solid. Five of the St Patrick's forwards contributed to yesterday's score, with Henry Finnegan, Kevin Mulvaney and free-taker Cian Ward particularly dangerous.

Manager Colm O'Rourke has largely rebuilt the team from a year ago, with midfielder and captain Seán Stephens one of only two survivors from the team that started last year's Leinster final. And if a weakness does emerge over the coming weeks there appears to be plenty in reserve on the bench.

Just like their first-round win over Patrician, Newbridge, the Navan students were never truly worried about the scoreboard. St Declan's had travelled the short journey north in good spirits following their first-round win over reigning champions Dundalk Schools, yet within the opening 10 minutes much of that confidence had been watered down.

In fact that opening period was one-way traffic, with Finnegan and Steven O'Toole getting straight down to business. St Patrick's had already notched up 0-4 before Marc Cahill sent over a St Declan's free on 13 minutes.

Gradually, however, the north Dublin school came into the game. Michael Carton and Willie Tyrell kept things even at midfield, although the indecisiveness of some of their forwards remained the greatest handicap.

At the turnaround St Patrick's were up 0-7 to 0-2, and clearly St Declan's needed a bit of luck. The wind in their backs helped a little, and with the next two points coming from Tyrell and Cahill the chances of a competitive climax looked good.

But then their luck ran out. On 36 minutes Mulvany split the St Declan's defence yet again and sent Finnegan through for the only goal of the match. A few minutes later Tyrell was fouled in front of goal, only for David Jennings to pull off the perfect save from the subsequent penalty effort from Ronan Curran. When Finnegan and midfielder Kevin Galligan tagged on two more points for the Navan side shortly afterwards the game as contest was dead.

ST PATRICK'S, NAVAN: D Jennings; C Reilly, K Reilly, S Crosby; P Murray, C Kenny, A Curry; K Galligan (0-1), S Stephens; S O'Toole (0-1), A Hayes (0-2), H Finnegan (1-3); K Mulvaney (0-2), C Ward (0-3, all frees), J Finnerty. Subs: G O'Brien for Crosby 28 mins, B Regan for O'Brien 41 mins, B Quinn for Kenny 55 mins, C Gleeson for Finnerty, D Geraghty for C Reilly both 58 mins.

ST DECLAN'S, CABRA: A Nolan; P O'Dea, L Fleming, R Kelly; R Curran, C Plunkett, D Redmond; M Carton, W Tyrell (0-1); M Cahill (0-3, all frees), G Morris, E Maguire; P Carton, P Fitzgerald, P Kelly. Subs: N Paget for Maguire 48 mins, I Fleming for P Kelly 49 mins, B McInerney for Tyrell 55 mins, D Stephens for Fleming 59 mins.

Referee: P Finnegan (Louth).