Captain Connolly Leads Vins To Record Equalling Leinster Title
RHODE 0-12
ST VINCENT'S 1-16
Stephen Doyle at O'Moore Park
St Vincents have matched the record set by Portlaoise in 2009 of a magnificent seven Leinster Club Senior Football titles.
It’s a third provincial crown in four years for the Marino men and it was almost inevitable when the man that collected the trophy found the only goal of the game.
A sweet left foot finish by skipper Diarmuid Connolly made to 1-1 to 1 point in the 7th minute and Tommy Conroy's men never looked back despite a very nervy moment at the end of the first half.
Diarmuid Connolly strikes for Vins - ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Again defender Ger Brennan failed to see out a full game but it looked a fair black card for him as he pulled Niall McNamee down in the square.
Ruairi McNamee took the resulting penalty and Michael Savage saved.
If it had been converted, it would have narrowed the gap to one point but instead the Offaly men went in for the break four points down after Gavin Burke tagged on a late score for Vins.
A nice but of symmetry as Burke had opened the scoring before Connolly’s goal.
The skipper got two good points in the first half as well and there was one each for Mossy Quinn, Shane Carthy, Enda Varley and Cormac Diamond.
Niall McNamee was the main man for the Offaly champs scoring two frees and a point and he would do exactly the same in the second half which the Dubs made look quite easy.
Quinn hit 2 frees and a point while Burke, Varley, Carthy, Joe Feeney and Ruairi Trainor all got on in on the scoring action after the break.
Derry champs Slaughtneil await the winners in the All-Ireland Club semi-final on February 11.