Sports

Coláiste Eoin, Stillorgan 3-7

Coláiste Mhuire, Mgr.2-5

While every player from Coláiste Mhuire is entitled to an A1 grade for wholehearted endeavour, even the most biased Mullingar man would concede that the better team won when Coláiste Eoin, Stillorgan were crowned as Leinster Schools junior football ‘A’ champions at Leixlip’s resplendent grounds on Tuesday week last (April 20th).

The Irish-speaking Dublin school had the aid of a useful wind in the first half and, in truth, they should have been more than four points to the good at the interval, leaving Malachy Flanagan’s charges still very much in contention. However, a goal from outstanding midfielder Maitias MacDonncha within 20 seconds of the restart left the Westmeath lads with a mountain to climb and, in the final analysis, the Stillorgan side were not at all flattered by the five-point winning margin, in what was a very entertaining and sporting contest over the hour.

Ironically, Coláiste Mhuire took the lead (for what was to prove to be the only time in the match) with less than a half-minute elapsed, David Whelan pointing in style. The physically bigger Coláiste Eoin soon began to take control and four unanswered between the fifth and 11th minutes were just reward for their all-round dominance – Donal Ó Gormlaigh, Fionnán Motherway (two, a free and a classy score from play) and Maitias MacDonncha being the young men on target. A minute before the last of these points, Coláiste Mhuire’s David Whelan opted to try for a goal from a difficult chance when a point was there for the taking. The lads in green and white were not making the most of limited possession and a quickly-taken, but ultimately wasted ‘45′, was indicative of this.

They were made to pay a heavy price for this profligacy at exactly the midpoint of the first moiety, full forward Daithí Ó Cathmhaoil poking the ball to the net from point-blank range, after a great run from Oisín Ó Ruairc had ended with his shot rebounding from the crossbar. Coláiste Mhuire players were being too easily dispossessed, but their commitment to the cause was not in doubt and they were rewarded with a terrific goal from Niall O’Brien, who caught David Whelan’s pass and bore down on goal before unleashing a great shot to the net from 15 metres, much to the delight of their vociferous supporters. At the other end, the Mullingar lads had a couple of narrow escapes, Daithí Ó Cathmhaoil ’s ‘goal’ being disallowed for a ’square ball’ offence, before Larry Racinskas did very well to smother the ball from Daithí Ó Cathmhaoil when a goal looked certain. Maitias MacDonncha soon added a fine point from 30 metres, but both sides spurned glorious opportunities of goals before the break, Cian Ó Ceallacháin and Emmet Corrigan being the guilty parties. The half ended with a piece of superb fielding from the winners’ full back Luke Ó Treasaigh, with Coláiste Mhuire more than a little fortunate to trail by just 1-5 to 1-1.

The lads in the distinctive black, saffron and white hooped jerseys got a dream start to the second half, Maitias MacDonncha burying the ball in the roof of the net after soloing goalward. To their credit, Coláiste Mhuire refused to throw in the towel and, despite a wide from a free from Jamie Loran and a yellow card for Brian Slevin (which the winners’ bench wanted to be coloured red), their persistence was rewarded with a brace of points from David Whelan (who appeared to have a goal on his mind) and Mark Browne (a great score from 40 metres). However, dreams of a sensational comeback more or less evaporated when the Stillorgan side tacked on 1-2 without reply in a three-minute blitz midway through the half, courtesy of a converted free from Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh, a great individual goal from Colm Ó Beaglaoich and a fine point after a great catch from Daithí Ó Cathmhaoil. This wrapped up the winners’ scoring and an unanswered 1-2 of their own from the North Leinster champions from Mullingar (a great achievement in its own right) merely served to put some respectability on the scoreline. A successful free from Sean Daly was followed by a great side-footed goal from the same player (seconds after substitute Dara Lyons almost poked the ball home) and a beautifully-curled late point from David Lynch. Moments later, jubilant scenes accompanied the cup presentation to Roibéard MacDaibhead.

Coláiste Eoin: Séamus Ó Dubhghaill; Colm Ó Fainín, Luke Ó Treasaigh, Conchubhair Ó Duibhir; Colm Ó Cróinín, Emmet Ó Dochartaigh, Cian Ó Ceallacháin; Maitias MacDonncha (1-2), Roibéard MacDaibhead (capt); Fionnán Motherway (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh (0-1, from a free), Donal Ó Gormlaigh (0-1); Colm Ó Beaglaoich (1-0), Daithí Ó Cathmhaoil (1-1), Oisín Ó Ruairc. Subs: Conall Ó Neill (for Motherway, 38 mins), Daire Ó Meachair (for Ó Beaglaoich, 54 mins), Maitiú MacNioclas (for Ó Ruairc, 58 mins), Ruairí Ó Meachair (for Ó Ceallacháin, 60 mins).

Coláiste Mhuire: Larry Racinskas; Adam Moore, Brian Slevin, Aidan Wallace; Efi Siode, Cathal Scally, Killian Daly; David Lynch (0-1), Sean Daly (1-1, 0-1 from a free); Mark Browne (0-1), David Whelan (0-2), Jamie Loran; Emmet Corrigan, Niall O’Brien (1-0), Luke Peppard. Subs: Brendan Flynn (for K.Daly, 37 mins), Luke Loughlin (for Corrigan, 38 mins), Niall Gunning (for Wallace, 48 mins), Dara Lyons (for Peppard, 48 mins).

Referee: Eddie Craul (Wicklow).

The under sixteen football panel have continued their preparations for the North-Leinster semi- final since after the Christmas holidays and are now beginning to hit their peak in form. They have been training twice a week and have been playing challenge matches against Ballymahon VEC seniors, Moate Community College and St Benildas College, Dublin. The boys have continued their unbeaten streak in all three matches and are off to Dunganney on Monday the 8th of March to face Gormanstown College. The match report will follow.