By Daire Walsh

Thursday March 01 2012

BOOTERSTOWN school Coláiste Eoin will face St Mary’s, Edenderry, in the final at Páirc Tailteann, Navan, on March 10 after narrowly overcoming Moate Community School 2-9 to 0-14 in a tight and tense semi-final encounter played at the same venue last Saturday, writes Daire Walsh.

The Westmeath boys enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, as three points from John Rock, and one from his twin brother, Martin, gave Moate a 0-5 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter; Eoin’s points came from Dáithí ó Cathmhaoil and Conal ó Néill.

However, Eoin finished the half in fine form, as points from ó Néill and ó Cathmhaoil, and a goal by Maitias Mac Donncha gave the Gaelscoil a 1-4 to 0-6 interval lead.

Eoin did register early second-period scores through substitute Cian ó Ceallacháin and Jamie Clintiún, but points from Cian Bradley (two), Martin Rock and Luke Kelly edged Moate into the lead by the 48th minute.

The decisive moment of the game arrived with seven minutes remaining, however, when ó Ceallacháin’s fellow substitute, Conor ó Duibhir, finished past Moate netminder Joe Kinahan for his side’s second goal.

This proved to be enough for Eoin, as ó Ceallacháin added an insurance score to ensure their passage to the final.

– Daire Walsh