Coláiste Choilm denied as Mullingar boys find a bit extra

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: 2-13 Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore: 0-17

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore lost out to a resilient Coláiste Mhuire side after extra-time in the North Leinster Schools second years football 'A' final at the TUS grounds in Athlone last Friday.

These two teams met earlier this year in the final of the Br Hubert Cup (a competition for first years) and on that occasion the weather was also atrocious. It was a similar story last week as again the rain poured down on top of these young footballers from the Tullamore and Mullingar schools. Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar won the Hubert Cup comfortably but extra-time was needed this time in order to see off Coláiste Choilm.

Peadar Baird’s 20th-minute goal was the crucial score of the first half. The Mullingar side started the brightest and they showed from the early stages that they carried the bulk of the better individuals. Josh Scahill got the scoring up and running for Coláiste Mhuire, with Jamie Leech, Luke Dowling and centre half-back Scott Farrelly (a 60m carry and finish) adding scores.

The Tullamore outfit, wind assisted in the first half, stayed with their rivals, Sam Heffernan, Aaron Mangan (a brace) and Jayden Daly all kicked scores in the slippery wet conditions. At half-time, it was Coláiste Mhuire 1-4 Coláiste Choilm 0-6.

After the turnaround, the now wind assisted Mullingar side grabbed a grip on proceedings. Quick fire scores from Mangan, Scahill and Michael Brennan had the Westmeath team ahead 1-7 to 0-7 in the 42nd minute. Mullingar held that three-point ascendancy for the majority of the second half.

Coláiste Mhuire led 1-10 to 0-10 in the 56th minute and looked odds on for the title. But they over elaborated in possession and gave the ball away on a number of occasions. They tried to hold what they had but Tullamore were more than game and they punished their opponents. Late scores from Keith O’Rourke and Sam Heffernan forced the game into extra-time.

Tullamore had the wind in the first half of extra-time but they scored just once - a Sam Heffernan point.

But then the score that proved crucial arrived courtesy of Tristan Durcan, and it was very fortunate. Firstly, Leech went for a score, the ball deflected off a defender and fell into the path of Duncan. The wing-forward beat Oisin Rigney with a low shot to the corner of the net. Coláiste Mhuire led 2-12 to 0-14 half-time in extra-time.

Mullingar again sat on their laurels, they again had the wind at their back but again they dwelled in possession and almost paid the price again. Late scores from Sam Heffernan, David O’Shea and Tomas Cassidy had the bare minimum between the teams with the clock gone red.

Encouraged to go long and take advantage of the strong wind, Coláiste Mhuire hit a long ball inside and substitute Cathal Kilmurray kicked the insurance score, making sure the trophy was going to Mullingar.

Both squads deserve credit for a good competitive game in wet and blustery conditions. Many of the players on show look to have bright futures ahead of them and they will surely meet again in schools competition. Coláiste Mhuire were the better side and although they made heavy work of seeing off their Tullamore opponents, they deserved the win.

They had that little bit extra on the day, mainly through the individual efforts of some of their key players. The Mullingar side will play South Leinster winners Scoil Mhuire, Clane in the overall Leinster final.

Player of the match: Peadar Baird (Coláiste Mhuire).

Baird was relentless, both kicking and creating crucial scores. Scott Farrelly, Michael Brennan and Shane Canning all played crucial roles. Sam Heffernan, Tim Cunningham, Keith O’Rourke and Jayden Daly all played well for Coláiste Choilm.

Scorers - Coláiste Mhuire: P Baird 1-1; T Durcan 1-0; A Mangan, M Brennan (1f) 0-3 each; J Scahill 0-2 (1f); S Farrelly, L Dowling, C Kilmurray and L Fitzsimons 0-1 each. Coláiste Choilm: S Heffernan 0-5 (1f); J Leech, J Hayden (1f) 0-3 each; K O’Rourke 0-2; D Galvin, B Heffernan, D O’Shea and T Cassidy 0-1 each.

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Tom McCaul; Seán O’Connell, Shay Leavy, Eoin McGinley; Liam O’Brien, Scott Farrelly, Shane Canning; Michael Brennan, Aaron Wallace; Jamie Leech, Peadar Baird, Tristan Durcan; Josh Scahill, Luke Dowling, Adam Slevin Kiernan. Subs used: Luke Fitzsimons, Seán Higgins, Cathal, Matthew Tully.

Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore: Oisin Rigney; Darragh Staunton, Tim Cunningham, Jack Conlon; Evan Doran, Connell Minnock, Fionnan Connolly; Daragh Galvin, Keith O’Rourke; Aaron Mangan, Sam Heffernan, Tomas Cassidy; Billy Heffernan, David O’Shea, Jayden Daly. Subs used: Fionn Daly Kane, Eoin Byrne.

Referee: Marius Stones (Offaly).