St Marys Edenderry

[Muck Savage]

Great result for St Marys beating Declans Cabra at the weekend, 13 pts to 2-6. Their into the semi now against Athlone. This is great for underage football in the county. Anyone at the game?

[True Red]

Yeah I was there to see my old alma mater enter the Leinster "A" semi's for the first time.A good open game with plenty of good score taking from both sides. With 5 mins left St Declan's had a peno to level the game but it was palmed over the bar quite brilliantly by Edenderry goalie Colm McCormack.Declan's tagged on another point to leave the minimum between the sides but Edenderry shaded it at the end and deserved it on balance as they had the stronger work ethic.

For a school side they have a tremendous attitude to tackling from the forwards back down the field and this aspect of their game is one of their stronger attributes.

[Bord na Mona man]

Well done to them.
Granted a few of their players are Kildare lads, it is still a good experience to get a good run in this competition.
It also helps the county minor management get a look at lads in big time matches.

Athlone CC would be reasonably strong I suspect. Last year they lost to the finalists Knockbeg. They were always keen rivals of Clara back in the 90s in the Vocational schools. They'd have a few Roscommon savages on board as well as Wastemeath lads.

[johntherobber]

Is Finbar Cullen still in school or is he gone to college??

[Lone Shark]

Athlone CC would certainly be very strong. They won the Leinster Junior title around three years ago if I'm not mistaken, which is why they skipped the Vocational schools grade and went straight into Colleges A going for the real glory. They did lose to Cabra in the first round, but they've picked things up since then, and would probably be slight bookies favourites for this title now.

Having said that Mary's have put in a very decent campaign themselves, and have no reason to be afraid. The absence of an Offaly school in this competition was a real pity, even if there were Offaly players on the Rochfortbridge and Moate teams, and it's great to see Mary's competing and playing well.

How's the great white hope, young Anton Sullivan getting on? This is usually the age where a lad of his talent can kick on to be a real elite player or else slip back into the pack a bit. Hopefully it'll be the former.

[True Red]

I agree that Athlone CC would be slight favourites for the semi but as you say you cant write off Edenderry. The have a nice blend of footballers and have a real never say die attitude which is refreshing to see.

As regards Anton he is progressing nicely. As stylish a forward that is around the place, he was Edenderry's danger man for the majority of the game and when he didnt score himself he won an awful amount of free's which were expertly converted by a young Hurley lad(possibly a brother of former Kildare player Padraig) from Johnstownbridge.

When he fully mature's Rhode (and maybe Offaly) will have a fairly devestating two man full forward line with himself and Niall Mc.

[naasmanxrhode]

Great win for my old school, St Declan's beat us a long time ago in the 'B' semi final by a point so this one was a long time comimg. Well done again. There is no reason why the can't go all the way.

[DD]

The St.Mary's junior team is the North Leinster Final this week also so plenty of good footballers going through the school at the moment.
A fair number of both teams made up of Kildare lads mind..

[DD]

The St.Mary's junior team is the North Leinster Final this week also so plenty of good footballers going through the school at the moment.
A fair number of both teams made up of Kildare lads mind..

Edenderry beat St. Mary's Drogheda by a pt (0-8 to 1-4)

[True Red]

Hard Luck to the Edenderry school team after losing on Saturday by 4 points.
Athlone were the better side but Edenderry made them fight hard for it all the way.

I felt that the sideline let Edenderry down a small bit by not making a couple of obvious switches but sure how and ever it doesnt matter now.

[Bord na Mona man]

Kenny kills off Edenderry
Athlone CC 1-11 Edenderry 1-7

Monday March 03 2008

BATTLING Athlone CC reached the Leinster Colleges SF 'A' final for the first time as a late goal from Robert Kenny clinched victory over St Mary's, Edenderry, in a thrilling semi-final at Moate on Saturday.

Kenny, along with fellow Westmeath minor players, Ian Coffey and John Egan, accounted for all of Athlone's scores and, indeed, Coffey and Egan set up the full-forward's all-important goal. Team captain Coffey finished the game with six points, while Egan chipped in with two.

Aided by the strong wind in the first half, ACC led by 0-8 to 0-2 at half-time, in a game played in wet and windy conditions in front of a sizeable crowd.

Athlone maintained their lead in the early part of the second half as they managed to keep the Offaly side at arm's length.

However, Edenderry finally managed to make inroads into the deficit in the third quarter and a well-taken 54th minute goal by Eoin O'Donoghue, followed by a point from the impressive Paul Cribbin, cut Athlone's lead to just a single point and the momentum looked to be with St Mary's.

However, Kenny's strike three minutes from time sealed Athlone's victory and they will now meet Franciscan College, Gormanston, in the final.

SCORERS -- Athlone CC: R Kenny 1-3; I Coffey 0-6 (4f); J Egan 0-2. St Mary's, Edenderry: S Hurley 0-4 (4fs); E O'Donoghue 1-0; P Cribbin 0-3.

ATHLONE CC -- J McMahon; N Byrne, A Hanna, N Daly; D Donohoe, B Moran, J Byrne; A Fitzpatrick, E Sheehy; I Coffey, M McCallon, J Egan; A Ward, R Kenny, D Dolan. Subs: J Coyne for McCallon; P Cunningham for Ward.

ST MARY'S, EDENDERRY -- C McCormack; D Holton, L Holt, C O'Donoghue; Jake Kavanagh, Josh Kavanagh, D Kelly; W Holton, M Young; A Sullivan, E O'Donoghue, P Cribbin; S Hurley, S Moore, S Cullen. Subs: S Guing for Sullivan (inj.); A Sullivan for C O'Donoghue; P Farrell for Cullen.

REF -- E Murtagh (Longford).

[Silken Thomas]

Paid a visit to this slightly biased Moate venue to see this extremely hyped encounter and have to say was not disapointed
I thought both teams put in a trojan effort in less than ideal conditions.

Couldn't help but notice though that Edenderry were fire-fighting from an early stage against a sharper and physically more confident Athlone team.
Wanted also to see Anton O'Sullivan in action too but despite showing glimpses of real talent seemed to be cramped by the soggy conditions and an injury of some sort.
Instead, among others,the twin threats of John Egan and Ian Coffey were truly to the fore. Coffey being remarkably similar to the watching Colm Quinn in both style and build and Egan who looked really classy carrying ball diligently and intelligently at crucial junctures.

However great experience for the Rhode and Edenderry lads. It's been a savage time since an Offaly school competed at 'A' level which lest anyone doubt is THE premier schools competition.
Though this was a seperate topic it's worth pointing out that successful schools have been a major catalyst in productive Senior Teams;
Mohill C.S.(Longford); Dromard
St. Patricks(Navan); Simonstown Gaels, Navan O'Mahonys
Knockbeg College(Carlow); Arles-Killeen
Moate Community School(Westmeath); Ballycumber/Tubber
To name a few.

The only real Offaly schools success I can think of in the last ten years was Gallen C.S. and Ard Scoil Chiarán. Unfortunatly or maybe fortunatly this is Vocational 'A' football which probably equates to 'B' schools football.

[DD]

The St.Mary's junior side won the Leinster today, defeating Naas on a scoreline of 3-12 to 2-11.. Well done to all involved.