Coláiste Mhuire sink wasteful Marist to close in on double

Coláiste Mhuire 4-13, Marist College 0-8

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Coláiste Mhuire are just one game away from a league and championship double after defeating Marist College in their North Leinster League semi-final at Páirc Chiaráin last Monday week.

If ever a game was played where the scoreline gives off a flattering impression, this was it. Marist College butchered four golden goal opportunities in the first half alone.

The host school from Athlone had the wind at their backs and instead of using it with the boot, both long into a target man or shooting from distance, instead they generally opted to run at the reigning Leinster champions.

Marist midfielders Tom Bourke and Killian O’Connell both played exceptionally well. They both pierced the Mullingar side's defence numerous times but between spilling possession or blazing attempts wide, goal chances went abegging.

Coláiste Mhuire were the total opposite. They were patient in their play and Multyfarnham's Matthew Thornton sprayed passes around off both feet from centre-forward. They showed good efficiency against the wind in the first half.

After a dominant first quarter, Coláiste Mhuire led 0-3 to 0-0 after ten minutes. But they didn’t score again for some 15 minutes. Then the Marist came thundering into the game, Bourke in particular. The Tubberclair midfielder kicked points from distance and on the run, gliding past opponents. Daire O’Connor also came into the game in support of his midfielders on kickouts, but the Athlone side wasted a number of goal opportunities.

Daragh Lough and Daire O’Connor combined to set up the strong running Kealan Connell, but the midfielder blazed wide from close range. O’Connor also did all the hard work to create another chance, playing combinations with a couple of players, before blasting wide with just the keeper to beat.

Sean Whittaker should have finished when put through, but a last gasp hand by Coláiste Mhuire keeper Adam Buckley keeper was enough to derail the young Tubberclair player. Cillian Geary also missed a gilt edged opportunity for a goal, as he was brilliantly blocked by Buckley.

Those misses seemed to break the morale in the Marist team. They had done everything but put the ball in the net and hadn’t taken advantage of the elements.

Then to make matters worse, Coláiste Mhuire scored a brace of late goals before the interval. Aaron Connaire scored the first and Will Scahill scored the second in soccer style, giving their side a 2-6 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Marist, though against the wind, were still very much in the game with Bourke winning plenty of possession at midfield. They were still creating scoring opportunities, but just couldn't take them.

Bourke made the groundwork before passing to substitute Cian Duffy whose goalbound shot was deflected over the bar by the excellent Buckley. The Marist seemed to lose any hope after that miss and it became a cruise for the visitors.

Sensing victory was in their grasp, the Mullingar school started to empty the bench and scored at will. Oisin O’Hara and substitute Beau Greene scored goals to seal a deserved win, albeit by a flattering margin. Rory McCaul and Finn Higgins kicked late scores as the Mullingar school advanced to another final.

Coláiste Mhuire have taken a step forward towards a double, as they seek a league title to add to their championship honours. They have shown themselves to be the best side in Leinster this year, well drilled and efficient.

Scorers - Coláiste Mhuire: W Scahill 1-4 (0-1 45), A Connaire 1-3, O O’Hara 1-1, B Greene 1-0, C Heffernan, M Thornton, M Weir, F Higgins and R McCaul 0-1 each. Marist College: D O’Connor 0-3 (1f), T Bourke 0-2, C Geary, D Lough and C Duffy 0-1 each.

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Ty Masterson, Adam Glynn; Ben McNamee, Michael Weir, Michael Moloney; Eoin Conlon, Donnacha Maguire; Oisin O’Hara, Matthew Thornton, Conor Heffernan; Will Scahill, Aaron Connaire, Sean Byrne. Subs (roll on): James Baird, Darragh Browne, Peter Connolly, Peadar Glennon, Beau Greene, Finn Higgins, Paul Keating, Shane Martin, Rory McCaul, Eoin Mullin, James Murtagh, Aidan O’Brien.

Marist College, Athlone: Max O’Sullivan; Sean Keegan, Kailin Blessing, Daire Burke; Anthony Mannion, Donal Dawson, Kyle Mahon; Tom Bourke, Kealan Connell; William Geraghty, Daire O’Connor, Daragh Lough; Cillian Geary, Paul Keegan, Sean Whittaker. Subs (roll on): Rory McMickan, Andrew Cotton, Cathal Ferry, Cian Duffy, James Pettit, Sean O’Grady and Tiernan Mitchell.

Referee: Pat Fox (Rosemount).