Brave Colaiste Choilm edged out by nemesis in extra time shootout

COLAISTE Choilm, Tullamore certainly went down with their boots on when they were edged out by their nemesis, Colaiste Mhuire from Mullingar in an enthralling North Leinster Colleges 2^nd Years football final at TUS in Athlone on Friday afternoon.

North Lerinster Colleges 2^nd Years Football A final

Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar 2-13

Colaiste Choim, Tullamore 0-17

(After extra time)

Well beaten by the same opposition in the first years final earlier this year, Colaise Choilm were much better this time, considerably more competitive. The score was 4-10 to 3-3 in the first years Br Hubert Final last April and Colaiste Choilm were chasing a lost cause quite early but this one was in the balance to the very end of the 80 minutes plus.

Both sides deserve huge credit for the game they served up in a very difficult conditions. Played on a very exposed pitch, it rained nearly the whole way through and there was a strong cross wind that very much favoured the team playing into the bottom goal.

Colaiste Mhuire and Colaiste Choilm tried to do the right thing all day and the composed, patient, disciplined and efficient football they played in such difficult conditions was the most please worthy aspect of the afternoon for them.

In such conditions, mistakes were inevitable and Colaiste Choilm's error count was just a small bit higher which is the reason they lost. There was, however, nick or nothing between them and it could have swung either way as both demonstrated terrific character, heart and fighting spirit. Ultimately it boiled down to a goal chance missed by Colaiste Choilm in the second half of normal time and a soft one conceded to Colaiste Mhuire in the first period of extra time.

An excellent first half goal was crucial for Colaiste Mhuire as they trailed by 0-6 to 1-2 after playing against the wind. The Mullingar side got on top in the second half and went four points clear but Colaiste Choilm kept going at them and did really well to get back into the game. They almost got a crucial goal when Sam Heffernan's close range shot was deflected onto a mixture of the post and crossbar with ten minutes left.

A goal then probably would have won it for Colaiste Choilm but they still did well to force extra time, getting the last equaliser in injury time.

In extra time, Colaiste Mhuire got their second goal in the first period when a short kickout from Oisin Rigney, who had a very steady game, was intercepted and the winners had the numbers forward to get the goal. Colaiste Mhuire were four points clear at one stage but again, Colaiste Choilm refused to surrender and kept driving. They got the gap back to a point and a penalty shootout was looming large when Colaiste Mhuire broke for a quality point that put two in it.

Colaiste Choilm pressed hard for a match winning goal but a packed Colaiste Mhuire defence meant that they were hoping for a “wet day” one. They had a half chance in injury time when a free from the very good Conal Minnock landed in the perfect place five metres out on the edge of the small square. The excellent Sam Heffernan got his fist to the ball but it was caught cleanly on the line by a defender and the final whistle went moments later.

There was no shame whatsoever in defeat for Colaiste Choilm but there are also crucial lessons for them to learn. They made a few mistakes, there were a few times when players carried the ball into traffic and possession was over turned while there were a couple of times when players didn't pick up opponents, staying on their own and allowing Colaiste Mhuire to get numbers into the danger area, which they were very effective at punishing.

Still, the performances of this young Colaiste Choilm team are very encouraging and observers will be watching their progress with great interest. Pulling in players from all the clubs in the wider Tullamore hinterland, Colaiste Choilm is now very much at the epi-centre of Offaly underage football, this is A football and it is great to see them holding their own and competing so well at this level. They have many players well capable of playing at a higher level for Offaly in the coming years and it will be interesting to see how players such as Tim Cunningham, Daragh Straunton, Conal Minnock, Keith O'Rourke who was their best player and is a very good prospect, Aaron Mangan, Sam Heffernan, Tomas Cassidy and others progress through the Offaly football development squad system in the coming few years.

Most are around 14 years of age with plenty of physical developing to do and the expert coaching and guidance the best of them receive in the development squad system will bring them onto another level again. Players from both teams are at an age where they are playing many different sports and that is fine at the moment. However, the best ones are fast approaching the day where they will have to concentrate initially on both of the gaelic games, for dual players, and then one of them very quickly after minor level, or whichever sport they choose, if their calling isn't football and hurling - both in school and outside of it.

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore: Oisin Rigney, Daragh Staunton, Tim Cunningham, Jake Conlon , Fionnan Connolly, Conall minnock, Evan Doran, Daragh Galvin, Keith O'Rourke, Aaron Mangan, Sam Heffernan, Tomas Cassidy, Billy Heffernan, David O'Shea, Jayden Daly. Subs: Eoin Byrne for David O'Shea, Fionn Daly-Kane for Evan Doran, Patrick Og Moore for Daragh Galvin, David O'Shea for Jake Conlon