Battling Colaiste Choilm can hold heads high but superior Naas retain title

THEY were not far away and when they got on level terms with ten minutes left, there was a definite chance there but Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore had no complaints at coming out second best to Naas CBS in an engrossing Leinster Colleges senior football final in Ashbourne on Saturday afternoon.

Leinster Colleges Senior Football Championship final

Naas CBS 1-12

Colaiste Choilm 0-10

Three unanswered points between the 40th and 48th minutes put a very brave Colaiste Choilm on level terms, 0-9 each and a historic first victory was within touching distance. Unfortunately, however, they ran out of steam and ideas in the closing ten minutes plus as Naas broke through for 1-3 to retain their title.

A five point losing gap may be a small bit harsh on Colaiste Choilm but in many ways, it was an accurate reflection of the way this went. The huge Kildare school were a few points better on the day. They had four or five of the best players on the field and moved with much more menace and threat when moving forward.

By contrast, Colaiste Choilm were swimming against the tide nearly the whole way. They were always hanging in their, fighting desperately to stay in touch and hoping that they would be able to get the late breaks that would allow them to sneak it against the head. It was set up for that to happen with ten minutes left but in reality, Colaiste Choilm weren't playing well enough and had they managed to win, it would have had a hint of robbery.

Colasite Choilm were fortunate to be only three points behind at half time and it was a credit to their sheer will power that they were so close for so long.

The truth, however, is that it just didn't quite happen for Colaiste Choilm on the day. They didn't score from play until a super Cillian Bourke left footed kick in the 36th minute. They only got two points from play over the hour plus, had just two wides, both in the second half and struggled to break down a excellent Naas defence the whole day.

To win, Colaiste Choilm needed their best players, Cillian Bourke, Niall Furlong and Pa Kenna firing on all cylinders. Absolutely no one will be blaming them for this defeat but this trio were not as effective and dominant as other games and Colaiste Choilm really could not win with that. Bourke was fierce honest at midfield but ended up doing a lot of defensive and covering work while Furlong got on a lot of ball in the attack but over played too much of this – in fariness to the Tullamore man, he often had very little options in front of him.

Naas's best player was centre half forward Tom Kelly and while Kenna was only on him for a while, the winners regularly made progress through the middle. Sean Kavanagh, who made two fine saves, David O'Rourke, Peter McKegney, Aaron Rattigan, Eoin Dunne, Ryan Kenny in the first quarter or so and Cian Bracken were among the Colaiste Choilm players who impressed at different stages but as a unit, they didn't play well enough to win and the reasons for this are collective rather than individual.

Colaiste Choilm can still be very proud of the year. They did very well to reach this final for the first time and with the bulk of this squad still eligible next year and other exciting players ready to emerge, they should be very competitive for the next few years. It has been a good year for them, they gave Offaly football a big boost, and they can hold their heads very high.

Naas CBS led by 0-7 to 0-4 at half time and Colaiste Choilm had struggled to get going but the big thing was that they were still alive and kicking, they had the wind to come and there was only three points in it.

Naas were very fast on the break, especially when they moved the ball through their very impressive centre forward Tom Kelly and it was all about hanging in there for the Tullamore students.

They didn't score from play in the first half with Cian Bracken and Ryan Kenny pointing two frees apiece and that was a black mark against them but on the plus side, they didn't have a wide.

At different stages Naas looked like they could pull away but each time, Colaiste Choilm upped their work rate and put in the hard yards. Naas stormed into a 0-3 to no score lead after six minutes, Kelly scoring them all wuith two from play. Ryan Kenny settled Colaiste Choilm with a ninth minute free and they were very happy to be only trailing by a point, 0-4 to 0-3 after 16 minutes.

Naas had played a lot of football for such a narrow lead but found another gear to score the next three points for a four point lead with half time approaching. Cian Bracken's excellent 32nd minute free left a score in it at the break and it was all to play for.

Cian Bracken got the first score of the second half from a free but Naas were able to respond impressively each time and led by 0-9 to 0-6 after 39 minutes. Another Bracken free made it a two point game but this time Colaiste Choilm were able to follow up with the next score, a fisted Bracken point after Eoin Dunne brilliantly intercepted the ball in defence. A Kenny free levelled it up in the 48th minute but Naas responded with the class of champions.

Tom Kelly settled them with a free and Rob Murray's tap in goal after the Colaiste Choilm defence was carved open made it 1-11 to 0-9 and ended the game as a contest – Ryan Kenny (free) and Dara Cooke exchanged late points.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Tom Kelly (Naas CBS): Tom Kelly was brilliant for Naas. He scored seven points, three from play, set up other scores and was at the centre of everything Naas did.

THE SCORERS

 Naas CBS: Tom Kelly 0-7 (4f), Rob Murray 1-0, Liam O'Connor ('45'), Daniel Hamill, Evan Gilmartin, Dara Cooke and Daire Gilmartin 0-1 each.

Colaiste Choilm: Cian Bracken 0-5 (4f), Ryan Kenny 0-4 (4f), Cillian Bourke 0-1.

THE TEAMS

COLAISTE CHOILM, TULLAMORE: COLAISTE CHOILM, TULLAMORE: Sean Kavanagh; Peter McKeagney, John Colgan, Tadgh Kelly; Aaron Rattigan, Pa Kenna, David O’Rourke; Cillian Bourke, Eoin Dunne; Dara Bates, Niall Furlong, Davin Keegan; Steven Doran, Ryan Kenny, Cian Bracken. Subs – Eoin Rouse for Bates (37m), Cormac Whittle for Keegan (46m), Shane Horkan for Doran (55m).

NAAS CBS: Charlie Carroll; Niall Cramer, Brian Hoctor, Matthew Kelly; Rob Murray, Cathal McCarthy, Jamie McGuirk; Cian O'Reilly, Liam O'Connor; Alex Lenehan, Tom Kelly, Daniel Hamill; Ferdia O'Domhnaill, AJ Jordan, Evan Gilmartin. Subs – Daire Gilmartin for Kelly (HT), Dara Cooke for Lenehan (39m), Jack Kelly for Jordan (45m), Owen Thompson for O'Domhnaill (51m).

Referee – David Sweeney.

REFEREE WATCH

David Sweeney had a solid game and Colaiste Choilm certainly couldn't complain as they won their share of soft frees in the first half when they were under pressure.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Rob Murray's 59th minute goal clinched it for Naas.

VENUE WATCH

The decision to fix this final for Donaghmore-Asbourne’s very impressive grounds drew plenty of bemused comments in Tullamore. It was a bizarre venue for this game in many ways, located close to Dublin and way farther from Tullamore than Naas.

Portlaoise, Carlow and many more venues would have been much more central but having said that, the grounds were excellent, facilities top class and pitch in tip top shape. They had a great club house and were very welcoming and helpful to the visitors. Plenty of stewards managed the large crowd efficiently and it was a great occasion.

Leinster Council’s preference was a county grounds and once they couldn’t get one, they had to make sure the final went ahead. Colaiste Choilm accepted the decision without quibble and that was the correct thing. Anything else would have been futile, a distraction and a waste of time and it was best to just get on with it.

WHAT’S NEXT

Naas CBS go into the All-Ireland semi-final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Colaiste Choilm – 2 (0 in first half); Naas CBS – 7 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Colaiste Choilm – 0; Naas – 1 (AJ Jordan).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.