Offaly school makes huge hurling strides forward with big “A” wins

COLASTE Choilm in Tullamore have made huge strides forward with two very significant hurling wins in the past couple of weeks.

The school, drawing in players from a number of clubs in the hinterland of the capital town, captured “A” hurling titles in Leinster colleges competitions for first and second year students – it was their first time to achieve success in A hurling competitions.

Long competing in B competitions in hurling and football, the school has really enhanced its football and hurling culture in recent years and is a very important nursery for Offaly GAA. They have moved into A ranks in all grades of football, reaching the Leinster senior final for the first time a couple of years ago when they gave a great account of themselves when losing to a powerful Naas CBS.

They have also made their mark in A competitions in younger grades and now hurling is beginning to follow suit.

There are some very talented young footballers and hurlers in the school now and Colaiste Choilm won the Leinster A second year hurling shield final this week, edging out Enniscorthy CBS in the final by 2-10 to 1-11.

They followed quick on the heels of the first year students who beat them by a week to become the first team from the school to win an A hurling title when beating Kilkenny CBS by 1-16 to 3-9 in O'Brien Park in the field final.

The 1^st year Leinster Championship consisted of nine schools and Colaiste Choilm were in group 2. Their only defeat all year was to their footballing nemesis Colaiste Mhuire of Mullingar and they had convincing wins over Dublin's Ard Scoil Ris and Colaiste Eoin before edging out a famous Kilkenny nursery in the shield final.

Colaiste Choilm first year hurlers created history by defeating a very good Kilkenny CBS side by a single point and becoming the first team in the school to win a trophy at A level hurling in Leinster. 

The 1st year Leinster championship consisted of 9 Schools. Colaiste Choilm found themselves in Roinn 2. They only lost one game all year and that was to a very strong Colaiste Mhuire side from Mullingar. They had convincing wins against Ard Scoil Ris and Colaiste Eoin from Dublin before they faced Kilkenny CBS in the Leinster A Shield Final. 

Colaiste Choilm had to show great character to win this as they recovered from a nightmare start when Kilkenny CBS raced into a 1-2 to no score lead. Ignited by a terrific goal from Shamrocks man Rory Grennan and a point from Tullamore player, Robbie Dolan, Colaiste Choilm found their rhythm.

Momentum swung further in Choilm’s favour when Grennan was fouled in the box, earning a penalty. Conal Buggy’s strike rattled the crossbar, but he showed great composure to slot over a point from the rebound. Dolan added his second point soon after, Kilkenny CBS responded with 2 unanswered points before Colaiste Choilm hit a purple patch with 2 more points from the stick of Conal Buggy along with points from Na Fianna’s Kaiden Monaghan & half back Adam Geraghty. Kilkenny CBS came back again with 2 more points but a free from the ever reliable Robbie Dolan helped Colaiste Choilm to a two point advantage going into half time. 

The second half opened with Colaiste Choilm extending their lead to five points with scores from Conal Buggy, Conor Horkan & a Robbie Dolan free. Kilkenny CBS then surged forward to level the game with a point followed by a well-taken goal. This only seemed to galvanise Colaiste Choilm efforts again. The hard working trio of Tullamore’s Eoghan Stewert, Jack McDermott and Conor Horkan broke down and turned over many an attack from the Kilkenny side. Their dominance in particular in the middle third of the field created many chances for their forwards to develop scores. Colaiste Choilm responded well with a slick team score finished off by Buggy and this was followed by the score of the game coming from half back Adam Geraghty. He rose high above a number of players to catch a puck out from the Kilkenny CBS keeper, his outstanding catch was equally followed with a fantastic point from all of 70 yards. This was a rallying score and got the supporters and the team going again. 

Corner forward Kyle Kelly who was a constant thorn in the Kilkenny defence when introduced and scored a great individual point to put Colaiste Choilm 3 points up. Then Tullamore’s Robbie Dolan hit a fantastic long range free from near the stand, the ball had only left his hurl when the roar came out of the stand from his oschoolmates behind him to affirm their confidence in the sliotar's destination. This gave Colaiste Choilm a 4 point lead and with 5 minutes remaining it looked like the Tullamore school was on their way to victory.

However, a pointed free from Kilkenny CBS left a goal in it at the closing stages, the Kilkenny side hadn’t decided to go away easily and equalised with a goal from their full forward on the 29th minute. 

Once again the Tullamore school side never panicked and always looked like they would get a chance to get the winner and that they did through the lively Kaiden Monaghan. A cross field ball was well judged by Monaghan who managed to jink inside his man to finish from the narrowest of angles. Kilkenny CBS had one more chance but pressure from corner backs  Kristian Svidersks and Daithi Boland forced a wide ball. Goalkeeper Conor Dunne pucked out the ball and Referee Jackie Longworths final whistle was greeted with a roar by the supporters. 

Captain Daithi Boland received the shield on behalf of the Colaiste Choilm team and he thanked the opposition and teams supporters along with management team of teachers, Jane McCormack & Anne Molloy who were assisted by mentor Johnno Kinahan and coach Martin og Buggy. 

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Colaiste Choilm: Conor Dunne; Kristian Svidersks, Kevin Dunne, Daithi Boland; Paddy O’Connell, Adam Geraghty, Conor Horkan; Jack McDermott, Eoghan Stewert; Kaiden Monaghan, Rory Grennan, Owen Walsh;  Conal Buggy, Larry Wright, Robbie Dolan.  Subs - Kyle Kelly for Larry Wright (35 min)z, Zach Hamill, Tom Walsh, Devin Molloy, Liam Deering, Paudie Boland, Kaiden Dunne, Noah Condron, Noah McDonnell, Larry Carroll, Jack Gleeson, Cian Brophy. Ross Phillips, Daniel Siempere, Ruairi Smith, Conor Gratton, Daire Spollen, Daire Fitzsimons, Harry Dunne, Cormac Farrelly, Oisin O’Grady