By Niall Gartland

TALENTED Patrician High wing-back Conor Meehan was a picture of delight following their last-gasp victory over Dean Maguirc in Tuesday evening’s enthralling MacLarnon Cup semi-final replay.

It looked like Ryan McCallan had propelled Dean to the title when he slotted home an injury-time point, a score that had ‘winner’ written all over it.

Patrician would likely get one more chance – and they did, drawing a scorable free converted by the reliable Peter Connolly.

Surely extra-time beckoned but there was time for one more act. Patrician won the resulting kick-out and broke forward at speed, the ball finding its way to centre half-back Joseph McArdle who made no mistake around 20 metres from goal, a moment that will surely go down in Patrician folklore.

Speaking after the game, Carrickmacross lad Meehan wasn’t quite sure how they’d managed to come through it, but come through it they did.

“We were down by three points at half-time and I thought my nose was broken – I thought ‘my God this is going to be a tough second half.’

“We came out and all we did was try harder, we did the basics and somehow we got over the line.

“It was squeaky bum time in those final few minutes but we came through it thankfully, and we’re very grateful to Joey McArdle.“

Meehan is a relative newcomer to the scene having switched schools a number of years ago.

“I’m only in the school this last couple of years. The boys have had some tough defeats but they’ve stuck together and I suppose that’s the secret. I knew a lot of lads from club football so it was easy to fit in, and I’m playing at a higher division now so it’s been brilliant.”

He also praised the management team spearheaded by Dylan McEnaney for their ‘meticulous’ approach since before a ball was kicked.

“I couldn’t praise them any high, they have us very well-drilled and there’s no messing in the team whatsoever. We were very meticulous the whole way through and that’s paid off for us thankfully.”