Published: Thursday, 18th March, 2010 9:00am

Tough assignment for St Pat's

by Jimmy Geoghegan

Fiachra Ross scored for St Pat's in their 2-13 to 0-10 victory over St Mary's.
Pic by==: 97

The quest for more Hogan Cup success will continue for St Patrick's CS when they travel to Nenagh for the All-Ireland Colleges' SFC semi-final on Sunday against St Brendan's, Killarney, 2.30.

While the outcome is in doubt it is almost certain that there will be plenty of spills and thrills promised especially if St Pat's previous outings so far this year are used as a yardstick.

The Navan school go into the game on the back of a provincial campaign which included two-game saga with St Mary's, Edenderry followed by a win over Colaiste Eoin, Stillorgan in the Leinster final.

While they were fortunate to survive against St Mary's in the drawn game, relying on a last-gasp Darragh Maguire goal, they did the business the second time around, winning by a convincing 2-13 to 0-10 scoreline, with Fiachra Ross and Fiachra McEntee making the net dance.

Next up was Colaiste Eoin in the Leinster final and those who paid at the turnstiles were again rewarded with another all-action, high drama encounter that St Pat's edged, by 1-12 to 2-8.

Again in this encounter it took a last minute goal from Conor Shierdan to ensure St Pat's won the day. Going into the closing stages it looked like Colaiste Eoin would claim the title before Sheridan's dramatic intervention. The Simonstown player's penalty was saved before he drove home from the rebound.

In all those games St Pat's displayed a spirit, self-belief and work ethic that they will need in large dollops if they are to overcome a St Brendan's College outfit that overcame Jack O'Connor's Colaiste na Sceilge by 2-7 to 0-12 in the semi-final of the Munster Colleges SFC before defeating DLS Macroom in the final.

Sheridan and Shane Barry form a solid midfield partnership and once they get the ball into the forwards St Pat's can make hay as indicated in the win over Colaiste Eoin when five of the six forwards got on the scoresheet.

Playing any team from Kerry is always a difficult assignment and Meath football could certainly do with an uplift at this time.

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