Melview … 4-3 St. Emers 3-4

Match report by Ray Donlon

LONGFORD SLASHERS FLOODLIT SCHOOLS LEAGUE ‘A’ FINAL …

Mighty Melview crowned Slashers League Kings

Epic encounter between two super teams

Games come and go but this one was a real ding-dong and memorable from the start to finish with some outstanding performances from the young stars of Melview and St. Emers and it is an old saying but in games like this no one deserves to lose and going into this game and leaving it there is absolutely nothing between both sides of fine footballers and both teams, management, schools, parents and most of all thirty young stars that we will be hearing a lot about in the future should be very proud of what they displayed for a large crowed gather at the final. The young stars of Melview came out on top on the narrowest of margins in the end with only two points in it.

St. Emers registered the opening score of the game with Tom Madden sending over a well-taken point from play. Melview’s first goal in this exciting contest was fired home with great accuracy from Thomas Kelly with it landing so perfectly under the crossbar. St. Emers smacked over point number two with it coming courtesy of Tom Madden once again.

In what was turning out to be a cracking game between two very evenly matched teams with Robert Kennedy blasting over from long range Melview’s next point of this so close contest. St. Emers who were very dangerous upfront could have notched a couple of more scores on the board if not for some fine defending from Michael Farrell, Sean Monaghan and Matthew Dowler with Melview’s fullback line making a number of important clearances.

The next score of the game came for the boys in the Blue and Yellow (Melview) with Thomas Kelly who was having an excellent game popping over a well-struck point from play. St. Emers came back with their next score of the game with Tom Madden knocking it over from long range. Thomas Kelly was on the mark once again for Melview with him firing home a point and a goal on the trot. St. Emers recorded one more point before the break with Neal Keenan sending it over.

The second half was without a doubt the most exciting second half played at schools football in along time with some wonderful football played and the most action packed twenty minutes ever played in this competition. Melview started the stronger in the second half with Mark Valentine unlucky on a number of occasions not to have hit the target, but had a fantastic game providing a number of excellent passes.

Melview who were very unlucky not to have picked up a few more scores with Rory Higham and Ciaran Devine having fabulous games. Melview’s first score of the second half came from Sean Flynn with Flynn scoring a fantastic goal from close range. St. Emers came right back with their second goal of this epic encounter with Tom Madden firing it home once again.

St. Emers who were showing great determination and did not want to lose this game with some excellent team efforts that could have proved to be the difference in the end if not for some marvellous defending from Daniel Philips, Simon Kiernan and Padraig O’Reilly for Melview. Other player’s prominent for Melview were Harry Hughes in goals pulling off some fine saves and Paul Devine having a good game in the centre of the field.

Melview last goal of the game was fired home by Neal Farrell who had another wonderful game for his side. St. Emers came back with one last attempt with a gallant display by all of the St. Emers side with Tom Madden firing home a cracking goal and point on the trot into injury time.

But that was the last action of the game as referee Johnny Griffin brought proceedings to a close in what was without a doubt the best ever Longford Slashers Schools League Final in the eighteen years of the competition and boys of Melview made history in winning the competition only for the second time. But in fact credit most go to both teams in leaving a lasting remark on the 2002 Final. Games come and go but this had it all!

MELVIEW: Harry Hughes; Michael Farrell, Sean Monaghan, Matthew Dowler; Daniel Philips, Simon Kiernan, Padraig O’Reilly; Paul Devine, Robert Kennedy (0-1); Neal Farrell (1-0), Thomas Kelly (2-2), Mark Valentine; Ciaran Devine, Sean Flynn (1-0), Rory Higham.

ST. EMERS: Daniel Monks; Jamie Mulligan, Philip Stakelum, Keith Belton; Lorcan Connolly, Sean Goldrick, Ronan Feeney; Neil Keenan (0-1), Thomas Conway; Darren Flaherty, Barry Trueick, Tom Madden (3-3); Hubie Connolly, Peadar Farrell, Sean O’Hehir.

 SUB:- William Stokes.

REFEREE: Johnny Griffin.