End of the road for brave Colaiste Choilm as Terenure prove too good

COLAISTE Choilm, Tullamore's dreams of quarter final football in the new year came to an end when a goal hungry Terenure got the better of them on Monday afternoon in the preliminary round in Dublin.

Leinster Colleges Senior Football Championship Br Bosco Cup Preliminary Quarter Final

Terenure College 5-9

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore 2-8

It was the home side who got off to an absolute dream start, racing into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after ten minutes of action with Billy Shouldrice, Oisin Costello and Lucas McAllister pointing before the game's opening goal coming from big St Jude’s full forward Shouldrice.

To their credit the Colaiste Choilm men they didn’t throw in the towel or show any signs of panic and they begun to settle into this clash with Eoin Rouse, Odhran Briody and Patrick Duffy really taking charge of the middle third from here.

The visitors opening point came in the eleventh minute when full forward Charlie Burns pointed a free. Burns looked to have his second point two minutes later when he took a shot from thirty yards out but to his, and Colaiste Choilm's delight the ball dropped into the top corner of the Terenure net giving the Offaly school a badly needed bit of luck. 

Burns was on the score sheet again by the quarter way mark when a 45’ from his younger brother Charlie dropped into the square before the ball broke out to Charlie who tapped over from twenty yards out.

The hosts looked to increase their lead on the eighteenth minute mark when Alan Delaney played a ball across the face of goal and it was palmed to the net by Lucas McAllister, both umpires were adamant something happened in the built up and the goal was disallowed and a free out to a relieved Colaiste Choilm was awarded, one can only assume for a square ball.

Proceedings were all square in the twenty second minute when Eoin Rouse pointed a free from the right hand side of the posts, and they were soon in front for the first time when Burns was on song with another set piece.

That lead was soon cut and levelled when Ternures Thomas Tisdell pointed superbly for his side, this was followed quickly by a well struck free from Oisin Costello. Costello was in for a sure goal in the twenty-seventh minute and his shot was headed to the back of the net but for Caden O’Beirne getting an arm to it to deflect the ball over the bar.

Rouse pointed another free from close range in the thirtieth minute to leave the minimum between the teams at the half way stage in favour of the home side.

A Rouse free in the second minute of the half had proceedings all square once again as both teams were really getting their defensive structures in order and “man marking” jobs sorted out.

It was over ten minutes later before the next score came and a quick counter attack from Mark Power before he kicked it in to Lucas McAllister who powered through before blasting to the back of the Tullamore net. 

Patrick Duffy responded for the Colaiste Choilm men in the eighteenth minute of the half to bring the gap back to two, before a powerful run from Charlie Burns saw him hauled down in the square, his brother Paddy stepped up to take it but it was well saved by Rory O’Donova,n really taking a crucial life line away from the visiting men.

Paddy to his credit didn’t let it affect him as he reduced the gap to one with the resulting forty-five. Conor Quinn cancelled this score out in the fiftieth minute pointing well from close range to put the gap back out to three. 

Three soon became six when Oisin Carroll fielded well in the middle of the field before playing the ball through to substitute Rory Curry who blasted to the back of the net.

Man of the Match Conor Quinn pushed the lead out to nine points two minutes later with a superb finish to the back of the net to seal the deal for his side before Jack Ledwidge pointed well to make it a ten point gap with three minutes of action.

Charlie Burns got a superbly well taken goal injury time for what was to only be a consolation goal as Teranure quickly cancelled it out when finished to the net by Quinn once again to seal a great personal display for the Balinteer St John’s clubman as the full time whistle quickly sounded. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Conor Quinn (Terenure): Oisin Costello had a powerful game at midfield for the hosts, while James Norris was solid at centre half back. Rory O’Donovan was also a late call up in the nets and he done really well for his side saving a crucial penalty.

Caden O’Beirne, Eoin Rouse, Charlie Burnes and Patrick Duffy all had good displays for Colaiste Choilm throughout the afternoon.

Conor Quinn is the choice here, he had a huge game for the winners linking up a lot of play and playing a real centre forwards role, he created and set up scores and will take serious marking in the next round.

THE TEAMS

Terenure College: Rory O’Donovan; Conor Quigley, Jack Cooney, Con Fitzpatrick; David Lombard, James Norris, Issac Duffy; Oisin Costello, Matthew Fowler; Mark Power, Conor Quinn, Thomas Tisdell; Alan Delaney, Billy Shouldrice, Lucas McAllister.  Subs: Rory Curry for Delaney, Jack Ledwidge for Lombard, Adam Murray for Power, Cathal Martin for Quigley.

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore: Aidan Walsh (Tullamore);  Robert Burns (Tullamore), Donal Dooley (Shamrocks), Caden O’Beirne (Tullamore);  Charlie Heffernan (Tullamore) , Tadgh Kelly (St Vincent’s), Louis Aubin (Tullamore) ; Eoin Rouse (Tullamore), Odhran Briody (Rhode Óg) Cormac Whittle (St Vincent’s), Darragh Stewart (Tullamore), Cian Horkan (Tullamore); Paddy Burns (St Vincent’s) Charlie Burns (St Vincent’s), Patrick Duffy (Tullamore). Subs Shane Lawless for Hefferna (ht), Donnacha Cooney for Whittle (35), William Cronly for Burns (47)

VENUE WATCH

The game was played in the Terenure school grounds, the hosts were very welcoming providing the correct team sheets/squad info to media. The pitch was in perfect condition given the recent weather. The supporters created a nice atmosphere too.

The only flaws: there was no scoreboard at the venue, which at times throughout the game had a lot of confusion as to what the correct score was. 

Also, the openness over the venue isn’t ideal, there was no shelter whatsoever and had it have been raining at all, life would have been a lot trickier. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Rory O’Donovan's save from a Paddy Burns penalty in the second half was crucial here, there was just two between the sides at the time and a goal here might have gave the visitors the momentum to drive on, the save here gave the hosts a huge lift and they powered on from here.

WHAT'S NEXT

That’s the season over for the Colaiste Choilm men, Terenure march on to the quarter final. 

CARDS

Yellow: Teranure 1 (Thomas Tisdell);Colaiste Choilm 1 (Odhran Briody)

Black: 0

Red: 0

SEE NEXT: Offaly All-Ireland winning sides feted in County Council civic reception

THE SCORERS

Terenure: Conor Quinn2-1, Billy Shouldrice 1-3, Lucas McAllister 1-2, Rory Curry 1-0, Oisin Costello 0-2 (1f), Thomas Tisdell and Jack Ledwidge 0-1 each

Colaiste Choilm: Charlie Burns 2-3 (2f), Eoin Rouse 0-3 frees, Paddy Burns (45), Patrick Duffy 0-1 each.