Mercy Colleges pull it out of the fire with late scores in quarter-final

Date Published: 20-Mar-2013

Mercy Colleges 2-12

Ulster Colleges 1-14

A storming finish saw Mercy Colleges, a combination from St. Raphael’s, Loughrea and Mercy College, Woodford edge out the Ulster Colleges in the All-Ireland A Colleges quarter final in Ashbourne on Saturday.

With just a minute gone, Mattie Lennon got the scoring under-way for the Ulster men with a fine free to settle his side. Five minutes later, Lennon converted his second from a placed ball. The Galway men were defending tenaciously but were unlucky to concede another free which Lennon once again struck over the bar with ease.

Mercy Colleges, who had been denied several times, finally got their first score after ten minutes with a superb strike out near the sideline from Jason Flynn. A massive work rate from both sides made it difficult for either team to score, leaving the scoreboard idle for several minutes.

Goalkeeper Cathal Tuohy was forced to come off his line and make a great save when his defence had been ripped apart by the Ulster Colleges. The ball was worked up the field and a free was won which Flynn struck between the posts. He subsequently drew the sides level seconds from a 65.

After 20 minutes, Conor Johnson struck his side’s first score from play with a fine point. Martin O’Brien was then on target after being set up by Flynn. Chris Egan and Conor Johnson scored two more points for the Ulster side before a foul on Eoin Morrissey led to Flynn finding the target.

But the Ulster Colleges scored four unanswered points before half time, three coming from placed balls, and one from corner forward Eamon Kearns to leave them 0-10 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.

Mercy Colleges would have hoped for a better start to the second half than they got. Straightaway Domhnall Nugent found the net from close range. Despite the fact the Galway boys were now trailing by eight points, they still kept their heads up and found a quick response with Flynn striking a free over the bar.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.