Offaly school overcomes Wexford outfit in Leinster Colleges contest

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore 1-9

Good Counsel, New Ross 0-4

Last year's beaten finalists Colaiste Choilm backed up their round one victory over St Belinda’s College of Dublin two weeks ago when they travelled to New Ross on Tuesday afternoon for Round 2 of the championship.

The opening half hour of football was a tough tight affair but ultimately the perseverance, experience and work ethic of three Tullamore school shone through in what was a well earned and ultimately comfortable win in the end.

It was the home side who opened the scoring after nine minutes of action when Martin Sinnott pointed well on the turn, a Cillian Bourke free two minutes later after full forward Charlie Burnes left things all square. 

The visitors probably should have been further ahead owning ball possession, with some of their ball handling and shot selection was keeping them from getting the scoreboard ticking over throughout the opening half including a poor miss from a Bourke free in front of the posts.

Charlie Burnes pushed the Tullamore school a point to the good in the twenty-seventh minute before late starter Davin Keegan added another seconds later.

Colaiste Choilm could have raised a green flag in injury time when a Charlie Burnes shot was excellently saved by Conor Lyng, the break falling to Aaron Rattigan who pointed well to leave his side three points to the good at the half way point.

Within seconds of the restart the Colaiste Choilm men were on the scoreboard once again, Aaron Rattigan forcing a huge turnover before Cillian Bourke put Eoin Dunne clear and the powerful Clodigah Geals club man made no mistake in blasting to the roof of the net.

Good Counsel had an opportunity to respond moments later when Martin Sinnott was hauled down by Colaiste Choilm centre back Patrick Keena however Darren Rossister could only watch on as his effort was well saved by Kieran Owens in the Tullamore goals ensuring his side remained in full control.

Dara Bates finished an excellent counter attack for the boys in red before substitute Charlie Burnes added another white flag leaving Colaiste Choilm eight points ahead as the clock ticked into the final quarter of action as the management team of David Dempsey, Stephen Burnes and Keir Mannerings made the fair and respectable call to remove team captain Cillian Bourke from action as the big Tullamore man prepares for a Leinster Club championship game on Sunday coming.

Aaron Rattigan came to the fore big time for the visitors kicking three fantastic points in what was a strong ten minute spell from the number fifteen really cementing a top of the table finish for his side.

Sean O’Brien kicked a point in injury time in what was only a small consolation score for his side as the Colaiste Choilm men ran out winners with eight points to spare. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

Man of the Match

Aaron Rattigan (Colaiste Choilm)

There were a few contenders for the accolade here, wing back Jack Maher and Centre half back Patrick Keena both had great performances in defence. Late started Davin Keegan got through a mountain of hard work in the forty minutes or so of action he featured before beginning to run out of steam. Cillian Bourke played well in patches doing the simple things leading by example.

The nod here goes to corner forward Aaron Rattigan kicking four points from play and never giving up on things even when it didn’t go well early on. He was getting verbals from the host crowd after kicking a bad wide early on but responded in the correct way with some beautiful scores

The Scorers

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore: Aaron Rattigan 0-4, Eoin Dunne 1-0, Cillian Bourke (f), Dara Bates, Charlie Burnes, Paddy Burnes and Davin Keegan 0-1 each.

Good Counsel, New Ross: Sean O’Brien (1f) 0-2, Martin Sinnott and Adam Ryan 0-1 each

The Teams

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore: Kieran Owens (St Vincent’s); William Cronly (Tullamore), Tadgh Kelly (St Vincent’s), Jack Bracken (Tullamore); Brian Guinan (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Cillian Bourke (Tullamore), Davin Keegan (Tullamore); Eoin Rouse (Tullamore), Dara Bates (Shamrocks), Eoin Dunne (Clodiagh Geals); Mark Holton (Tullamore), Charlie Burnes (St Vincent’s), Aaron Rattigan (Clodiagh Geals). Subs: Paddy Burnes (St Vincent’s) for Holton (35), Eoin Briody (Rhode Og) for Keegan (43) Ger Keating (Shamrocks) for Bourke (45), Ronan Hooper (Na Fianna) for Keena (46), Jack O’Donoghue (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for Cronly (55).

Good Counsel, New Ross: Connor Lyng; Ross English, Mitch Cullen, Callum Murphy; PJ Mackey, Joe McCarthy, Kian Rossistor;Mark O’Leary, Cian O’Shea; David Foley, Sean O’Brien, Conn Mernagh; Sean Fitzharris, Martin Sinnott, Darren Rossister. Subs: Adam Ryan for K.Rossister, Callum Kirwan for Fitzharris and Conor Ryan for Sinnott (54min), Paddy Quigley for Meenagh and Jason Cody for Foley (57min)

Ref Watch

Eamonn Furlong was the man in the middle on this occasion, more known for his hurling officiating the Rapherries Starlights club man was brilliant on this occasion.

He gave frees when necessary and issued a few yellow cards when needed otherwise letting the game go smoothly and over all he was not a factor.

Venue Watch

Good Counsel College have some fantastic facilities for the standards of school teams. Dressing rooms were a bit of a walk from the pitch and there was no scoreboard and shelter at the venue.

 One would feel that a game of this importance should have been played in either a county ground or decent club facilities, the visitors when playing home always try ensure they get into O’Connor Park or if not there then Faithful Fields for their championship games.

A competition of this importance deserves the more bigger and important grounds.

Talking Point

The magnitude of games that some players at this level play is almost impossible at times for to give it their all at every given chance. To their credit once the scoreboard opened a bit David Dempsey, Keir Mannerings and Stephen Burnes called their captain Cillian Bourke ashore. Bourke has had a very heavy schedule in recent weeks and that continues over the next few weeks with some big games in both football and hurling. 

Moment of the Match

Kieran Owens save from Darren Rossister's penalty effort in the 39th minute was the big moment here, this would have left the New Ross outfit trailing by two, instead they conceded a point at the opposite end and one could see from here that it was not going to be their day.