History made as Offaly school claims first Leinster Junior Football title

Oaklands Community College won their first Junior D Leinster Football Final on Wednesday in a historic win over Arklow CBS.

This was in the wake of beating Banagher College in the North Leinster Final and Clondalkin Community College in the Leinster Final.

Arklow CBS were perceived favourites having three Wicklow minors Aaron Kenna, Jack Wolohan and Odhran Cullen. Blessington was in fantastic condition on the day and the game got off to a great start with both teams trading a point a piece in the first three minutes.

Clonbullouge’s Alex McCabe tore through the heart of the Arklow defence and found his goal shot saved before Rhode’s Drew Kennedy Fleming followed up with the rebound.

Rhode and Offaly U15 Josh Ferguson chipped in with a fisted point to leave the score 1-2 to 01- after 18 minutes

Arklow responded as they kicked three points in a row to tighten the gap to a point in the 21^st minute.

This was however as close as the sides got. Carbury brothers Dylan and Cian Daniels put 1-2 on the board in a vital purple patch for the Offaly school and the half time score was 2-6 to 0-5 points. This score did not reflect how tough the half was in Blessington and it may have been tighter if not for some great defending by Matthew McBride and Edenderry’s Abdul Ogunse.

The second half was about game management for the Oaklands Community College side and this was reflected in how well they used the ball.

Daingean’s Jack Kelly was vital in securing possession and bringing other players into the game. Cian Daniels added another goal and this brought the lead out to 3-7 to 0-5 points and effectively ended the tie for Arklow CBS. The final score line ended 3-10 to 0-5 points and not conceding in the second half was down to a fantastic defence led by Offaly minor Jason Curley.

The coaching in Oaklands Community College has improved dramatically and the side was managed by Eoghan Nealon Portlaoise GAA and coached by Ballinagar forward Jacob Beatty.

Oaklands Community College director of coaching Matt Dempsey said after to parents and supporters in Arklow, ‘’the school has seen a transformation of football in recent years with former student and 2017 Leinster Senior Schools winner Rory Egan lining out at wing back for the Offaly in their Division 3 league win over Kildare with Rory’s Brother Oscar lining out for the school today. Oaklands teacher and coach Shane Tierney lined out at corner forward for Offaly in Croke Park and current students Billy Quinn and Evan Boyle lined out for the Offaly and Kildare under 20s last Wednesday. Football is high on the agenda in North Offaly and in West Kildare and this has been reflected again in Oaklands as we strive to develop players for clubs such as Edenderry, Ballyfore, Rhode, Carbury, Johnstownbridge, Clonmore, Ballinabrackey and Daingean, with 4 of those clubs represented here today.’’

The Oaklands Team: Tristan Dempsey, Donnacha O Connell, James Gill, Oscar Egan, Abdul Ogunse, Jason Curley, Jamie Dalton, Alex Mccabe Comerford, Matthew McBride, Josh Ferguson, Drew Kennedy Fleming, Dylan Daniels, Cian Daniels, Jack Kelly, Nathan Maloney