Routine win for Tullamore's Colaiste Choilm as championship gets underway

Leinster Senior Colleges Br Bosco A Football Championship Round 1

Colaiste Choilm 1-16

St Fintan's High School, Sutton 0-02

In what was an easier than anticipated clash for the hosts it was very much a routine victory for the hosts on Tuesday morning as they began their championship campaign at O’Brien Park.

The games opening score came on the fourth minute when wing back Charlie Heffernan popped over a lovely score down the right channel to give the hosts the lead.

Wingford Donnacha Cooney had the lead doubled moments later with his side’s second score of the morning.

St Fintan's almost responded a couple of moments later when they had a goal chance with their right half forward got through and Aidan Walsh stood strong ensuring no early green flag troubles his side, with the Sutton men on an advantage here their full-forward made no mistake in pointing the resulting free to leave the minimum between the sides for the only time in this clash.

By the end of the opening quarter David Dempseys charges had the lead out to five points with Colm Nolan, Louis Aubin pointing along with two fine efforts from Darragh Stewart all getting their names onto the scoresheet.

Patrick Duffy got his name onto the scoresheet and with Cooney soon adding his second of the day before two more Stewart efforts in the space of two minutes the home outfit were cruising with a nine point lead.

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Sutton had their chances to add scores and when their final effort of the half dropped into the arms of Aidan Walsh the home outfit went on the counter attack in which Paddy Burns did well to get his first of the day putting the gap out to ten as the stopwatch reached the halftime point.

It was a sign of how comfortable things were looking for the Colaiste Choilm side when two of their best players on the opening thirty were replaced at the break, a call that David Dempsey and his backroom team must be credited for, both players will long out in their clubs u16 A hurling final this weekend and it was the right thing to do.

The Tullamore school had a couple of early chances on the opening minutes of the half and it wasn’t until their fourth effort of the period that there was a white flag raised with Charlie Heffernan pointing well.

Cian Multany-Kelly tagged on a lovely score in the forty fifth minute, this could have been followed by a goal seconds later when substitute Sam Heffernan just blasted wide from close range.

Charlie Burns tagged on two well struck frees before Louis Aubin got the games opening goal finishing well from close range to put the final nail in the Sutton men’s coffin.

There was a consolation point in the last couple of minutes when the visitors tagged on a score which was cancelled out when the brilliant Aubin raised the games final score of the afternoon.

Overall the Tullamore school will be thrilled with how things faired out and with some key players, including Eoin Rouse a star player on the Offaly minor team this year, to return they will be hoping they can get themselves into the knockout stages.

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Match Analysis

Man of the Match

Louis Aubin (Colaiste Choilm)

As the score board would suggest all of the contenders would be from the Colaiste Choilm outfit. Donal Dooley had a great game at fullback making some brilliant turnovers and leading well from the defence. Both Patrick Duffy and Darragh Stewart were well on the way to the award in the opening half however both were replaced at the break (credit the colaiste Choilm management for doing so, both lads lining out in a u16 A hurling final on Saturday). Aidan Walsh had a brilliant game in goals making some good saves and kick outs on point.

Louis Aubin is my man of the match, he performed his defending duties perfectly, and was brilliant getting up the field, he set up some scores and contributed 1-2 to his sides tally in a great display.

The Teams

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore

Aidan Walsh (Tullamore); William Cronly (Tullamore), Donal Dooley (Shamrocks), Robert Burns (Tullamore); Charlie Heffernan (Tullamore), Tadgh Kelly (Kilclonfert), Louis Aubin (Tullamore); Charlie Burns (Daingean), Patrick Duffy (Tullamore); Donnacha Cooney (Na Fianna), Darragh Stewart (Tullamore), Cian Horkan (Tullamore); Cian Multany-Kelly (Na Fianna), Paddy Burns (Daingean) Colm Nolan (Raheen).

Subs: Ben Dillane (Tullamore) for Stewart and Sam Heffernan (Tullamore) for Duffy (Both Half-Time), Hugh Kelly (Kilclonfert) for Nolan (35), Finn Coleman (Shamrocks) for Multany-Kelly (42), James Geraghty (Ballycommon) for R.Burns (46).

St Fintan's, Sutton: No Team Sheet Provided

Referee Watch

Eamonn O’Connor took charge of this clash and done a good job, he let things flow and only gave cards when necessary. He had a full compliment of umpires which he must be credited for as it’s neat easy to gather officials for these games during the day. Over all Eamonn wasn’t a factor in the result and that’s what every referee wants in these games.

Moment of the Match

There was no real moment of the match, but Darragh Stewart’s tow points in a minute were brilliant, he took on the shots and put the home side into double figures

Venue Watch

O’Brien Park hosted this clash and everything ran smoothly. The score board was in operation which is very important at this level. Given the volume of teams using the facilities in Tullamore the pitch held up as best as can be expected for this time of season.

What’s Next

With it being a group sides have a clash with Knockbeg College, who had a bye today, in the coming weeks.

Statistics

Wides: Colaiste Choilm 11 (6 in first half) St Fintans 1.

Scorers

Colaiste Choilm: Louis Aubin 1-2, Darragh Stewart 0-4, Charlie Heffernan, Charlie Burns (frees), Donnacha Cooney 0-2 each, Colm Nolan, Patrick Duffy, Paddy Burns, Cian Multany-Kelly 0-1 each