Talented young Offaly students chasing amazing treble glory
A TALENTED bunch of young students from Tullamore's Colaiste Choilm are chasing treble glory as the end of the school year looms in view.
A number of the students are on the three panels that are hunting down glory in big first year football, hurling and basketball competitions.
The football and hurling championships are in the “A” grade and this has delighted the GAA fraternity in the school, which is trying to compete at the top level as far as possible in both codes.
The hurlers have qualified to the Leinster A schools first year semi final after beating Castlecomer in the quarter final - they now go on to play famed Kilkenny nursery, St Kieran’s in the semi final this Friday in Dr Kelly's Field, Tullamore this Friday at 10.15am.
The footballers have qualified to the first years' Leinster A final after beating Naas CBS in the semi final and they go on to play Mullingar CBS in the final next Tuesday, April 30 in O'Connor Park at 1pm.
The Basketball team have qualified to the all Ireland semi final which will be played in the National Basketball Arena next Monday against Drimnagh Castle.
It will be the second Leinster A football final for Colaiste Choilm to compete in this year. They reached the Leinster Colleges Senior Football final for the first time in their history in 2024, losing out to Naas but giving a great account of themselves.
The footballers had a great win over Naas CBS in the semi-final. A high intensity first half against Naas CBS who had a gale force wind behind them saw Colaiste Choilm behind 4-1 to 1-1 at half time. In the second half the determination of the Colaiste Choilm boys really came to the surface as they dominated, only allowing Naas to scorew two points.
A final score of 3-10 to 4-3 saw Colaiste Choilm reach the Bro Herbert cup Leinster A final where they will play a strong Mullingar CBS side.
Coached by Rory Kearney from the Shamrocks club and Cappincur's Ciaran Farrell Colaiste Choilm have made huge strides in there football teams from winning Leinster B in 2020 to reaching the Leinster A final for the first time this year. This really goes to show the good work being put into the teams in the school. It’s a very good thing for Offaly GAA to have teams playing at such a high standard from such a young age.
Football Panel
Aaron Mangan VC, St Vincent’s; Alex Cummins, St Vincent’s; Conal Minnock, VC Shamrocks; Jack Hanley, St Vincent’s; Tom Lynch, Tullamore; Billy Heffernan, Tullamore; Cillian Humphrey, Tullamore; Daniel Trainor, Shamrocks; Daragh Staunton, Na Fianna; Daragh Galvin, Ballinamere/Durrow; Eoin Byrne, B/D; Sean Finlay-Scanlon, B/D; Patrick Og Moore, Rod Og; Evan Doran, B/D; Fionn Daly Kane, Tullamore; Fionnan Connolly, Na Fianna; Harry Dunne, St Vincent’s; Jack Brennan, B/D; Jake Conlon, Tullamore; Keith o Rourke, Shamrocks; Oisin Rigney, Kilcormac-Killoughey; Rory Farrell, St Vincent’s; Sam O'Beirne, Tullamore; James Dempsey, Na Fianna; Tomas Cassidy, St Vincent’s; Tim Cunningham, Tullamore; Mathew Cunningham, B/D; Harry Cleary, B/D; Fionn McGrath, Na Fianna; Sam Heffernan, Tullamore; Dion Rock, Shamrocks; Caomhan o hAirmhi, Shamrocks; David O'Shea,Shamrocks; Jayden Daly, Tullamore; Daragh Nolan, B/D; Devin Donoghue, Tullamore; David Coyne, B/D; Daniel Conway, B/D; Jack Dunne, Na Fianna; Tomas McFadden, Na Fianna
Hurlers
The Colaiste Choilm first year hurlers have qualified to the Leinster A hurling semi final after beating Castlecomer CS in the quarter final. The team is full of talented players from a number of different clubs.
The team will face their biggest challenge yet when they face St Kieran’s Kilkenny. But no doubt Colaiste Choilm will be up for it.
Coaches Colm Cassidy, Naoibh Larkin and Sinead Moran have done a superb job so far. Hopefully they can keep up the run of good form.
Hurling panel
Tom Lynch, Tullamore; Devin Donoghue, Tullamore; Fionàn Connolly, Na Fianna; Jake Conlon, Tullamore; Mathew Cunningham, Ballinamere/Durrow; Keith O Rourke, Shamrocks; Daragh Staunton, Na Fianna; Evan Doran, B/D; Conal Minnock, Shamrocks; Tomas Cassidy, Na Fianna; Aaron Mangan, St. Vincent’s; Eoin Byrne, B/D; Oisin Rigney, Kilcormac/Killoughey; Sam Heffernan, Tullamore; Daniel Conway, B/D; Daire Galvin, B/D; Billy Heffernan, B/D; David Coyne, B/D; Harry Cleary, B/D; Timmy Cusack, Shamrocks; Sean Finlay Scanlon B/D; David Foley, Tullamore; Jack Hanley, Daingean; Darragh Nolan, B/D; Fionn McGrath, Na Fianna; Fionn Daly Kane, Tullamore; Jack Brennan, B/D; Harry Dunne, St Vincent’s;Jayden Daly, Tullamore
Basketball
A blitz of four teams took place in the Colaiste Choilm gym recently with a place in the All Ireland semi final was at stake. Beating Gonzage College and De La Salle Waterford left them in a great position going into the final game. Another win sealed there their spot in the All Ireland semi final against Drimnagh Castle in the National Basketball Arena next Monday.
The coaches are Amanda Hogan and long serving teacher, Liam Ò hOistin.
Basketball panel
Keith O Rourke, Oisin Rigney, Jack Pyke, Sean Finlay Scanlon, Evyk Gajor, Conal Minnock, Cillian Humphries, Sam Heffernan, Caomhan O hAirmhi, Jayden Daly, Daniel Conway, Legend Moyo, Dyhan Naiv, Tomas Cassidy, Daniel Finlay, Rory Fawell, Jack Kirwan, Daragh O'Brien, Bobby McGreal, Tom Brennan, Daragh Galvin, Fionnan Connolly.