Goals prove vital for Vincent’s

ST VINCENT’S 2-12 ST COLUMBA’S (Longford) 0-11

Goals wins games – as strikes from Tomás Quinn in the opening half and late on by Shane Carthy saw St Vincent’s progress to the Leinster club final in two weeks’ time against Offaly's Rhode (in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise).

There was just a goal between the sides when Vincent’s combined brilliantly for Carthy to fire to the net and wrap it up for the Dublin champions after a great battle.

Carthy finished the game in a flourish when he tagged on a point as Vincent’s ran out seven-point victors with the strength of their bench telling, particularly the work of Joe Feeney and Albert Martin.

Tommy Conroy’s men led 1-8 to 0-8 after a very even opening half.

The only goal of the half arrived in the 14^th minute when Diarmuid Connolly found Enda Varley who drove through on goal before slipping the ball off to Tomás Quinn who applied the finishing touch.

However, the Longford champions replied impressively with three points in quick succession from Mullinalaghta men Rian Brady, James McGivney, following a run by Gary Rogers, and Shane Mulligan saw the hosts edge in front 0-6 to 1-2.

But back came Vinnies with Shane Carthy, Tomás Quinn (free) and Ruairí Trainor all on target to open up a 1-5 to 0-6 lead by the 25^th minute.

Before the break the sides shared scores with Gary Rogers, Quinn (free), Enda Varley with the fist, and Jason Matthews (free) splitting the posts for the Marino men to hold a two-point interval advantage.

The second half was locked in a scoreless stalemate for the opening 14 minutes until St Columba’s Gary Rogers reduced the gap to the minimum and the home side began to believe a shock was on the cards.

A superb Diarmuid Connolly point lifted his side as the Vincent’s captain began to lead his side by example.

Points from Shane Carthy, off his less favoured left foot, and sub Albert Martin had Vinnies four points to the good, 1-10 to 0-9, inside the last eight minutes.

Victory in the Leinster final would put St Vincent's level with Portlaoise at the top of the provincial roll of honour with seven Leinster club SFC titles.

SCORERS – St Vincent’s: S Carthy 1-3, T Quinn (0-2f) 1-2, E Varley 0-2, Cormac Diamond, R Trainor, D Connolly, J Feeney, A Martin 0-1 each. St Columba’s, Mullinalaghta: D McGivney 0-3 (0-3f), J Matthews (0-2f), R Brady, G Rogers 0-2 each, S Mulligan, J McGivney 0-1 each.

ST VINCENT’S: M Savage; M Concarr, J Curley, C Wilson; B Egan, G Brennan, Cameron Diamond; D Connolly, D Murphy; G Burke, S Carthy, Cormac Diamond; R Trainor, E Varley, T Quinn. Subs: J Feeney for Murphy (41), A Martin for Burke (41), N Mullins for Cameron Diamond (49), K Golden for Cormac Diamond (49), M Loftus for Varley (60)

ST COLUMBA’S, MULLINALAGHTA: P Rogers; P Fox, S Cadam, J Mooney; S Mulligan, D McElligott, C Brady; R McElligott, J Keegan; G Rogers, J McGivney, D McGivney; J Matthews, A McElligott, R Brady. Subs: M Cunningham for E McElligott (41), F Mulligan for C Brady (54)

REF: D Moore (Laois).