Colaiste na hInse 5-7
Gallen Community School 3-7

Colaiste na hInse staged a remarkable second half comeback to stun Gallen Community School and take the North Leinster Juvenile C football title on the astro turf pitch at St Lomans GAA club in Mullingar this afternoon.

Gallen completely dominated the opening twenty five minutes of the first half. Colaiste na hInse simply could not handle the power, pace and accuracy of Gallen full forward Ryan Heavin. Heavin's father, Ger, was one of Westmeath's most talented forwards. The number 14 had Gallen two points to the good after five minutes when Kyle Higgins struck for the Ferbane school's opening goal. From the kick out Heavin had Gallen's second goal before hInse got on the scoreboard with a Nathan Noone point. Three further points from Heavin had Gallen 2-6 to 0-2 ahead before James McElearney got in for a very important goal for hInse. Gallen led at the break 2-6 to 1-2.

Colaiste na hInse are based in Laytown and are managed by Meath and Ireland defender Kevin Reilly and the majority of their players come from the St Colmcilles club home of former Royal greats Bernard Flynn and Bob O'Malley.

Reilly's charges managed to get to grips with Heavin in the second half, dropping a player back in to play in front of the dangerous full forward. Their midfield pairing of Georgie Poynton and Conor Maguire began to win more ball and the scores followed. Poynton and McElearney kicked points before Adam Lynch got in for a goal to leave the score 2-7 to 2-4. Full foward Nathan Noone got their second goal and the game was level. James Conlon gave the Laytown boys the lead before Noone got his second goal to push Colaiste hInse 4-6 to 2-7 ahead. McElearney was pulled down in the square and Poynton convereted the penalty to give his side a 5-7 to 2-7 lead with time almost up.

On the stroke of full time hInse's keeper Jordan Brown was sent off and from the resulting penalty Heavin converted for his side's second score of the half. Gallen only other score of that period came from Conor Owens.

After the game Tom O'Donnell presented the North Leinster Juvenile C Football Shield to Colaister na hInse captain Georgie Poynton

Colaiste na hInse: Jordan Brown, Ben Mooney, Luke Mooney, Eoin Sweeney, Clinton Liberty, Brendan Long, Conor O'Byrne, Georgie Poynton (1-2), Conor Maguire, Graham Brennan (0-1), James Conlon (0-1), Adam Lynch (1-1), James McEleraney (1-1), Nathan Noone (2-1), Dean Morgan.

Gallen Community School: Barry Rohan, Diarmuid Guinan, Emmett Molloy, Ronan Maguire, Conor Lynam, Ronan Hynes, Liam Cooper, Tom Corcoran, John Corcoran, Jack Darcy (0-1), Conor Owens (0-1), Kyle Higgins (1-0), Nathan Poland, Ryan Heavin (2-5), Jack Clancy.

Referee: Michael McAdden Westmeath Tweet

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