Football: St Columban’s day to remember

ST COLUMBAN’S are All-Ireland champions. They achieved a marvellous victory at St Loman’s Park, Mullingar, last Saturday and it would be an understatement to say that this was a tough All-Ireland U-16 final.
The Wexford team were strong, fit and physical and certainly provided formidable opposition. The fortunes of both teams ebbed and flowed and it was a great honour for the St Columban’s boys to win a final of such proportions. They and their families will remember the occasion for the rest of their lives.
The players definitely had the right attitude and this must have been at least partly due to the influence of Stephen Poacher and Tom Cunningham. At a number of junctures it seemed that the match was slipping away from them and it was their bravery and steely determination that enabled them to hang in there.
St Columban’s trailed for most of the time and they had to come from behind to put this final into extra time. Yet in the end they won by seven points so this must say something for the character of the team.
It was a wonderful team performance that won this match with every player on the move to back up a colleague in possession of the ball. They were willing to forgo personal glory for the success of the team.
Stephen Poacher had instilled self-belief in these young players and it was obvious from his joy afterwards that his very being shared this victory with them. Michael Higgins and Conor O’Hare were in stupendous form at the back and Ryan Doran held firm at full back. Conor Poland was a player apart at midfield and resolute Chris Cunningham played his heart out to ensure that their opponents didn’t win too much possession in this area.
Diarmuid Flanagan and Darren Doyle expended unbelievable energy up front and had the stamina and vision to drop back when the going got tough around the middle third of the pitch. Malachy Trainor, Michael Ireland and Cahal Doyle also battled consistently to win the ball against a very physical half-back line.
In the end St Columban’s had great reserves of energy and courage and that is why they were crowned All-Ireland Vocational champions.
St Columban’s got off to a somewhat hesitant start at bright and breezy Mullingar. Their opponents had six points during the first 12 minutes while Kilkeel’s only score was a Darren Doyle point.
Clever playing by Diarmuid Flanagan soon set Cathal Doyle up for number two. Then came Darren Doyle’s goal from a Conor Poland pass.
A super move between Michael Ireland and Cathal Doyle in the 22nd minute should have resulted in a goal but eventually Malachy Trainor’s shot rebounded to Darren Doyle who earned a penalty. Trainor took the spot kick but was denied a goal by a brilliant save from Bridgetown keeper Gary Redmond.
Later Flanagan scored a point and by half-time it was St Columban’s 1-3 Bridgetown 0-7.
The Kilkeel boys also made a shaky start to the second half when they missed three good chances and were caught on the break when Aaron Goff shot past Mark Sloan.
This was when St Columban’s demonstrated their sheer character. Conor O’Hare gained possession from the kick-out and the ball was delivered to Diarmuid Flanagan who executed a perfect cross which Darren Doyle fisted to the net.
Within minutes the spirited Michael Higgins burst up-field to level the scores. Then in the 10th minute Columban’s took the lead for the first time when Conor Poland drove a magnificent kick over the bar.
Yet the drama was far from over. A little slackness in the Kilkeel defence allowed Aaron Goff to grab Bridgetown’s second goal but by this time St Columban’s had begun to play like a winning team.
Points from Poland, Flanagan and Ireland emphasised their superiority and Flanagan missed a goal chance. As Bridgetown hung on to a slender lead, Michael Higgins strode up-field and put the match into extra time, the teams locked together at 2-9.
There was to be no denying St Columban’s who scored 1-6 to their opponents’ 0-2 during the two periods of extra time. Poacher’s boys certainly finished with a flourish.
Diarmuid Flanagan 0-2 and Chris Cunningham had already set them up before Conor Poland deftly guided a Malachy Trainor cross to the Bridgetown net and it was all over. The dream had been achieved and the celebrations began.
It was a full hour before the St Columban’s bandwagon left for home and further festivities at the Aylesforte on Saturday evening. A skilled and well-prepared team had brought further honours to the school, their community and their local clubs.
St Columban’s: Mark Sloan, Conor O’Hare, Ryan Doran, Jamie Carroll, Edward Sloan, Michael Higgins 0-2, Darren McDowell, Chris Cunningham 0-1, Conor Poland 1-2, Malachy Trainor, Michael Ireland 0-2, Cathal Doyle 0-2, Diarmuid Flanagan 0-4, Darren Doyle 2-1, Patrick Gartland. Ryan O’Hare 0-1 for M Trainor, Cenk Adenzie for C O’Hare, Malachy Trainor for R O’Hare, Matthew Toner for C Poland.