Colaiste Choilm show true character in backs to the wall win

COLAISTE Choilm, Tullamore showed true character, standing up to be counted all over the field to edge out St Pat's of Navan in a titanic tussle in the Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Football Championship quarter-final in O'Connor Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore 0-10

St Pat's, Navan 1-6

In many ways, it was a sensational win for the Tullamore students, who could only manage a solitary point in the first half as they trailed by 0-4 to 0-1 at half time. They gave a vastly improved second half display to turn it around. Crucially, they reduced their error count and their key players came good when their need was at its most acute.

They got the closing two points from midfielders, Cillian Bourke and Cillian Martin in injury time for a win that they just about deserved – though they could have said very little if the result went the other way. Martin's winning point came five minutes into injury time when he booted the ball over from ten metres after it broke for him. A further three minutes was played and the Meath side had ample possession to have forced extra time. The injury time was justified as a couple of Colaiste Choilm players received treatment and there were a few subs introduced.

St Pat's did have one chance of an equaliser when wing back Matthew Kealy opted to go short with a free after a sloppy foul by hard working sub Steven Doran – the ball eventually found its way to Robbie Finegan who blasted it wide. The losers had one more attack but Ciaran Quinn was penalised while in possession and an absolutely delighted Colaiste Choilm held on.

It was a massive win for Colaiste Choilm, who now return to the semi-final for the second successive year. They survived an extra time nail biter in the last round against St Mary's of Edenderry and once again lived on their wits here but these games and these type of wins will bring them on a tonne.

It was a strange sort of game. There was only three points scored in the first thirty minutes and St Pat's got two in first half injury time but it was nowhere near as bad as that scoring return would suggest. Instead it made for compelling viewing, quite entertaining as two very evenly matched teams went toe to toe.

Colaiste Choilm had two major problems in the first half. Their shooting was way off. They had four wides in the first eleven minutes, seven in all in that half and while some of them were under presssure by a very tight St Pat's defence, some were down to just bad shooting and option taking.

An even bigger issue for Colaiste Choilm in the first half was that their error count was way too high. They gave away a lot of ball with normally reliable players, misplacing passes and this meant that they struggled to create chances and build momentum for any decent length of time. Colaiste Choilm had actually got the first point from Luke Bourke in the fourth minute but didn't score again.

Even though they were in a difficult situation with that 0-4 to 0-1 half time deficit, it was also clear that they were as good as St Pat's and could still win – their goalkeeper Sean Kavanagh did keep them alive with a super instinctive save from Andrew Canavan in the 27th minute.

Colaiste Choilm were considerably better in the second half. St Pat's still caused plenty of problems but Colaiste Choilm retained possession much more efficiently, didn't give as much ball away and cut down on the mistakes – some did creep back in late on but fatique was a factor then. They also began to break tackles and create chances. Three points from Jack Connolly, Ryan Kenny (free) and Cillian Martin had them back on terms within six minutes.

They were stunned when St Pat's sub Ben Corkery got away from Gary Merriman to blast home an excellent 37th minute goal. That put them back three in front and it could have broke Colaiste Choilm, Instead they rallied superbly, scoring four on the trot from the 17th to 21st minutes to take a 0-8 to 1-4 lead. Robbie Gallagher, Ryan Kenny (two frees) and Niall Furlong were the kickers and everyone of them was a crunch score with the two from play really good ones.

Again St Pat's showed their class to lift the siege. Matthew Kealey got a free and the outstanding Cian Commins pointed from play to give them the lead with the sixty minutes just up. Once again, Colaiste Choilm showed heart warming spirit, throwing the kitchen sink at their opponent and those points from Bourke and Martin gave them a super win – it was no surprise that these two kicked the decisive scores as they really rose to the challenge when Colaiste Choilm's need was at its most acute in the closing quarter. Martin had provided a different physical option when moved into full forward for a while at the start of the second half and he also won crucial ball when he went back out in the closing quarter. Bourke also came good late on while the work rate and desire of everyone else commanded the utmost of respect.

MATCH ANAYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ben Heffernan (Tullamore): Ben Heffernan gave a defensive masterclass for Colaiste Choilm. You can make a strong case for Cillian Martin, Ryan Kenny and Niall Furlong – Kenny put in a great honest shift while Martin was involved in some really big plays and his work rate was also superb. Furlong had a huge impact once he got going and the quality of some of his play, his willingness to take chances brightened up the afternoon. Jack Daly and Ter Guinan also had great games in the defence, albeit contributing to the volume of ball that was coughed up in the first half. Ryan Conway had a fine first half when St Pat's were asking serious questions. Heffernan, however, scarcely put a foot wrong all day. He did the simple thing so well, turning over ball, marking tightly, making interceptions and using it well.

THE SCORERS

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore: Ryan Kenny 0-3 (3f), Cillian Martin 0-2, Cillian Bourke, Luke Bourke, Jack Connolly, Robbie Gallagher and Niall Furlong 0-1 each.

St Pat's: Ben Corkery 1-0, Matthew Kealy 0-2 (2f), Cian Cummins, Andrew Canavan, Billy Smyth and Luc Doyle 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

COLAISTE CHOILM, TULLAMORE: Sean Kavanagh; James Kelly, Ryan Conway, Ben Heffernan; Jack Daly, Ter Guinan, Gary Merriman; Cillian Martin, Cillian Bourke; Luke Bourke, Ryan Kenny, Dan Bourke; Jack Connolly, Robbie Gallagher, Niall Furlong. Subs – Steven Doran for Connolly (45m), Patrick Kenna for Merriman (57m), Adam McCarthy for Luke Bourke (61m),

ST PAT'S, NAVAN: Luke Healy; Luc Doyle, James Reeves, Breandan McGuinness; Matthew Kealy, Danny Waters, Lorcan O'Connor; Tadgh Martyn, Darren O'Brien; Seimi Byrne, Cian Commons, Andrew Canavan; Neil McGinley, Billy Smyth, Robbie Finnegan. Subs – Ben Corkery for McGinley (35m), Ciaran Quinn for Canavan (45m), Cormac Liggan for O'Brien (52m),

Referee – David Sweeney.

REFEREE WATCH

Former Laois footballer David Sweeney had a very good game and it was great to see him bringing a few neutral umpires with him – neutral officials can be a big problem at some colleges games, though the schools were asked to supply linesmen with an established referee Jackie Longworth stepping in for Colaiste Choilm. Sweeney was consistent and did well to spot a few fouls by the player in possession, who did illegal hand offs – this is something that is rarely punished and he even gave one against St Pat's right at the end of injury time and was not afraid to make calls.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cillian Martin's winning point was the only one that mattered here.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch is getting back into good order after not being up to its usual high standard at the start of the year. It was great that this game was in O'Connor Park. It was a fitting venue for it and this grade of competition for Offaly schools should be facilitated there. It was also good to see the scoreboard in operation and an announcer present to play the national anthem. A large crowd of supporters created a good atmosphere.

WHAT'S NEXT

Colaiste Choilm are now in the semi-final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Colaiste Choilm – 8 (7 in first half); St Pat's – 7 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Colaiste Choilm – 0; St Pat's – 2 (James Reeves and Danny Waters).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0