Fantastic come from behind win sends jubilant Colaiste Choilm into final at last

A MIXTURE of pure relief and uncensored joy erupted in Killucan on Friday afternoon when Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore staged a sensational late comeback to qualify for the Leinster Colleges Senior Football Championship final.

Leinster Colleges Senior Football Championship semi-final

Colaiste Choilm,Tullamore 1-11

St Pat's, Navan 1-9

After losing the last two semi-finals, Colaiste Choilm's large watching support feared the worse when they trailed St Pat's of Navan by three points, 1-9 to 1-6 with just over five minutes remaining.

With the gun to their head and another devastating defeat staring them in the face, Colaiste Choilm werer brilliantly unstoppable in the closing fewminutes as they threw caution to the wind and went at the renowned Navan school with everything they had.

A shell shocked St Pat's side had no answer as a Ryan Kenny free and sensational individual point from Niall Furlong brought the gap down to a point and three minutes plus injury time left on the clock.

Superb sub Cian Bracken fired over a super equaliser in the 58^th minute after trojan work by Cillian Bourke. With the strong wind on their back, it was Colaiste Choilm's to lose and briefly, they threatened to throw it away. The outstanding Niall Furlong booted wide under pressure and in injury time Cian Bracken was wide with a very scoreable free.

Colaiste Choilm were not to be denied. Bracken would have started only for injury and he showed great composure to fist them into the lead two minutes into injury time, turning down the chance to take a goal as he was in one on one on the goalkeeper. Then he put them two ahead a minute later, a breathtaking score when he jinked and weaved after Niall Furlong broke from his own half and delivered a great ball into space.

It was a score worthy of winning any game and a two point deficit meant St Pat's had to get a goal. They had one late attack and Colaiste Choilm breathed when a Pat's boot landed on a breaking free but it rebounded away from danger and the final whistle went five minutes into injury time.

It was a richly deserved win for Colaiste Choilm who have been knocking on the door since winning the “B” in 2019. Known simply and fondly as the “Brothers” to generations of older people, Colaiste Choilm's win is the biggest in a long history of promoting gaelic games, particularly football, in the school. It is also a huge boost for Offaly football to have a school in this final. St Mary's of Edenderry won Leinster and All-Ireland colleges titles in this grade in 2012 but had several Kildare players on the squad. The Offaly Schools'team performed brilliantly to win Leinster hurling last year but that was a combined team, picking from every secondary school in the county.

Colaiste Choilm is a standalone school, comprised of all Offaly players and it is a huge thing for the county, town and surrounding areas. They now play St Mel's of Longford or Naas in the final and even if defeat is to be their lot there, it is great to get there but they won't be contemplating that type of talk.

The Tullamore students showed terrific character to win here and crucially their key playersall hit top form. The trio of Patrick Kenna, Cillian Bourke and Niall Furlong oozed class and all left their imprint on the game. Collectively their work rate was what was needed and some of their unsung heroes all stood up to be counted. One of the youngest players on the field, Tadgh Kelly, a son of Offaly senior football manager, Declan, was one who caught the eye in defence, doing his primary duty very well, tackling well and closing down tirelessly – he needs to tidy up a small bit on his distribution but is a good bit younger than most players on the field here.

Steven Doran also gave a great shift in the attack – his running, on and off the ball, inspired everyone else to raise their effort levels and it was just a very impressive all round display by the winners. They also got a lot off the bench. Cian Bracken was instrumental in them winning the game, scoring the last three points while Cormac Whittle and another very young player, Eoin Rouse also took the game to St Pat's.

They showed terrific character to win and laid a powerful foundation when playing against the wind in the first half. Colaiste Choilm's manager Mark Plunkett – a pupil in the school in the 1980s – revealed afterwards that St Pat's won the toss and opted to play with the wind but they had decided they would play against it if they won it.

It all worked out very well for Colaiste Choilm as they settled down quickly and got a crucial early goal from Niall Furlong. Two points behind at that stage, Furlong got his boot to a loose ball after Cillian Bourke had hit the post with a great sixth minute chance after St Pat's failed to clear their lines – it is difficult to be certain who got the final touch as Bourke and Dara Bates were also very close to the ball in that frantic goalmouth scramble. Ryan Kenny's free gave them a 1-1 to 0-2 lead but they then lost their way for a while. St Pat's got four points without reply between the 9^th and 15^th minutes to take aone point lead.

Another Kenny free kept Colaiste Choilm ticking along but they conceded 1-1 in the 21^st and 22^nd minutes. The goal came from a penalty from St Pat's best player Billy Smyth after he was fouled. The next few minutes was vital for Colaiste Choilm as a four point deficit was okay with the wind but a seven or eight point one wasn't. They knuckled down, concentrating on the basics and an injury time free from Niall Furlong left them 1-6 to 1-3 behind at the break.

It was a very acceptable position to be in but a win was by no means a formality and for much of the second half, it looked like St Pat's would get there. Niall Furlong and Cian Commons (free) exchanged early points and |Colaiste Choilm missed a good goal chance in the 44^th minute when Cian Bracken's shot was deflected out for a '45' that he dropped short.

He converted a '45' three minutes later, just after another stunning Furlong point to reduce it to a point and 47 minutes gone. St Pat's found another gear and a Commons free followed by a lovely Billy Smyth point restored their three point gap. It looked like it would be enough for them but Colaiste Choilm hadn't any of those thoughts and in a nerve tingling closing ten minutes, they got the scores for a famous and deserved win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Colaiste Choilm's win was fully merited and this is reflected by the fact that they had the three best players on the field in Patrick Kenna, Cillian Bourke and Niall Furlong. Only St Pat's Billy Smyth got up near that level, though they had plenty of really good footballers. Kenna continues to impress as a real prospect, a vital cog in the Colaiste Choilm machine at centre back. It is a tough call between Bourke and Furlong for man of the match. There is a case to be made for Bourke who was so effective in everything he did almost the whole way through but Furlong gets the nod on this occasion.

The latest member to emerge on the scene of one of Offaly's greatest footballing dynasties, Furlong showed the great potential he has. He scored 1-4, 1-3 from play and the quality of his three second half points from play commanded complete admiration. There was a lot more to his game than this as he matched it with an inspiring work ethic and helped set up other scores. Discipline has emerged as an issue for Furlong in recent months as he has begun to pick up too many cards in football and hurling but he was meticulous in almost everything he did here. He didn't come to the referee's attention and he showed how good he is when challenging his aggression and toughness in a good and positive way. A truly excellent display by the grandson of Offaly football folk hero, Martin Furlong.

THE SCORERS

 Colaiste Choilm: Niall Furlong 1-4 (1f), Cian Bracken 0-4 (1'45'), Ryan Kenny 0-3 (3f).

St Pat's: Cian Commons 0-6 (5f), Billy Smyth 1-2 (goal from a penalty), Fionnan O'Connor 0-1 (f).

THE TEAMS

COLAISTE CHOILM, TULLAMORE: Sean Kavanagh; Peter McKeagney, John Colgan, Tadgh Kelly; Brian Guinan, Pa Kenna, David O’Rourke; Cillian Bourke, Eoin Dunne; Dara Bates, Niall Furlong, Davin Keegan; Steven Doran, Ryan Kenny, Aaron Rattigan. Subs – CormacWhittle for Guinan (34m), Cian Bracken for Keegan (34m), Eoin Rouse forBates (43m), Shane Horkan for Doran (62m).

ST PAT’S, NAVAN: Jamie Norris; Fionn McHale, Sean McLoughlin, Tadgh Murray; Oisin O'Neill, Matthew Kealy, Sean Betson; Darren O'Brien, David Donnelly; Fionnan O'Connor, Cian Commons, Harry Cahill; Andrew Gormley, Billy Smyth, Conor Donohoe. Subs – Jamie Duffy for O'Connor (42m), James Donnelly for Cahill (44m), John Gormley for Murray (45m), Daniel Gavagan for Betson (60m).

Referee – Mark Clancy (Longford)

REFEREE WATCH

It was a tough, physical game to referee and Mark Clancy had to be on his toes. There were some hairy decisions but these very much balanced out and neither side could quib in that way. Darren O'Brien definitely should have got a card for a neck high challenge on Furlong, that might have attracted a different response from the Tullamore man on a different day but here he just brushed himself off and kept trying to do the right thing.

The one black mark against the referee was that he had only one umpire at each end. Both schools had enough supporters to provide one and there were also oficials around from the host club. They got away with it and there were no flash points or controversial calls but it was not good enough for a game of this importance, even if he wanted neutral officials.That just should not happen and he also could have done with the extra eyes – Ryan Kenny and a Navan player got into a tangle at the start of the second half before the one umpire was in position, though that worked well for Colaiste Choilm as the Ballycommon man was already on yellow. Apart from that, he allowed play to run and didn't give many soft frees.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cian Bracken got the three closing points and they were all crucial but Niall Furlong's score just before them in the 57^th minute represented a huge moment. It brought the gap back to a point but it was also the score of the game. Furlong showed fantastic skill to make space for himself out on the left hand side, dummying a couple of St Pat's players and then arrowed over as good a point as you will see.

VENUE WATCH

Killucan was a nice, intimate venue for the game. The Westmeath club have excellent facilities and hosted the game well. Both schools brought bus loads of supporters and they created a terrific atmosphere.

WHAT’S NEXT

Colaiste Choilm go into the Leinster final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Colaiste Choilm – 5 (1 in first half); St Pat’s – 3(1 In first half).

Yellow cards: Colaiste Choilm – 2 (John Colgan and Ryan Kenny); St Pat's -1 (James Donnelly).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0.