Farrell and O'Neill on target as Coláiste Choilm win windswept clash
Coláiste Choilm 2 St Joseph's 0
Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore, coped better with the elements to record a 2-0 victory over St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge in Gainstown on Thursday morning of last week in the West Leinster Colleges U17 league.
This was a fine victory for Coláiste Choilm as St Joseph's fielded a number of players from their All-Ireland winning juvenile team from last season.
Frankly, a very strong wind blowing directly towards the clubhouse end of the resplendent all-weather pitch at Mullingar Athletic's home ground, spoiled the game as a spectacle. However, it was the Tullamore lads who pounced for their winning brace when wind assisted in the first half. And, try as they might on the change of ends, Damien Rushe's charges were unable to breach a resolute winners' defence.
The strength of the wind facing the 'Bridge lads was evident from a very early stage as attempted clearances from the St. Joseph's 'keeper and back four came back boomerang-like into their faces. Indeed, it took Coláiste Choilm considerable time to adjust themselves, with Niall Farrell's early in-swinging corner flying out over the perimeter railings. Ironically, the best early chance fell to Gary Morgan but the St. Joseph's striker was unable to direct his shot on target, at the end of a counterattack.
In the 17th minute, Shane Farrelly (who had a fine game overall) had to advance smartly off his line to keep out Coláiste Choilm's lively attacker, Dillon Melia. The latter player was instrumental in the winners' breakthrough goal in the 28th minute, his trickery in the box (albeit aided by a needless lunge from a 'Bridge defender) teeing up the ball for Niall Farrell, who calmly slid the ball to the back of the net from ten metres.
The winners almost doubled their lead some eight minutes later but St. Joseph's managed to scramble the ball to safety. With Sam Plant tidying up a lot of loose ball in midfield, the losers came more into the game at this juncture. Neat interplay between Jack Reid and Ryan Doherty set up a half-chance for Gary Morgan, but his header was easily held by Darren O'Brien.
Coláiste Choilm's physically imposing midfielder, Adam Shelley shot just over the crossbar before the lads in red struck for a vital second goal in injury-time (the game was 40 minutes a-side). Another Shelley shot was blocked but fell kindly for Macdara O'Neill, who still managed to find the net despite an acrobatic attempt to keep the ball out from Shane Farrelly. Directly after the resultant kick-off, the referee blew for half-time.
In truth, Coláiste Choilm fared better against the wind than their opponents had done and they had at least an equal share of possession in the early stages of the second half. A snapshot in the 50th minute from Jack Reid was parried at the expense of a corner by Darren O'Brien. At the other end, Shane Farrelly did very well to keep out Gareth Byrne's attempt.
As the game swung from one end to the other, a diving header from Jack Reid was well wide of the target. Half-chances went abegging for the lads in white and blue due to a failure to attack in-swinging corners and crosses, before Luke Gallagher was desperately unlucky to see his crisp strike from 25 metres come back into play via the butt of the goalpost.
Macdara O'Neill caught the eye in the closing stages using the ball well at all times. The last chance fell to the winners, but substitute Shane Dolan just failed in an attempt to lob Shane Farrelly.
Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore: Darren O'Brien, Jack McNamara, David Doyle, Ken Hogan, Declan Byrne, Gareth Byrne, Niall Farrell, Adam Shelley, Dillon Melia, Macdara O'Neill, Conor Leen. Subs: Casper Skura for Melia (49), Jason Dunne for G.Byrne (72), Shane Dolan for Leen (77).
St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge: Shane Farrelly, Adam Kavanagh, Aaron Darcy, Daniel Woods, Pearse Byrne Colgan, Sam Plant, Enda Kenny, Luke Gallagher, Gary Morgan, Jack Reid, Ryan Doherty. Subs: Mark Geoghegan for Doherty (42), Eoghan O'Malley for Kenny (59), Luke Byrne for Plant, inj (65).
Referee: Jim Baker (Mullingar).
