The curtain came down on the 2017 football season today and it was a happy ending for the boys from Templemore.
In a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ moment, Liam Collins scored a cracking goal with the last kick of the game to snatch the U11 Roinn A County Championship is Cashel. This secured the title for the second year in a row. Captain Shane Monaghan accepted to trophy on behalf of a great bunch of players.
Throughout the game Cormac Bourke was immense at full back. Vital scores were collected by Dayle Hogan (0.2), Zac Quinlan (0.2), Tom Corcoran (1.1) and of course Liam Collins (1.1). Billy Collier, Joe Bourke, Seán Walsh, Niall Delaney, Jack Marnell, Ryan Loughnane, David Augustianak, and captain Shane Monaghan all contributed greatly to an amazing comback, having trailed by six points at half time.
Final score.
St. Colmcille’s PS 2.6
St. Peter and Paul’s 2.3
The Late, Late Templemore Show
As a kid you can only dream of being Roy of the Rovers. Just once, could you be that hero who cracks in a last minute goal? Could it be a goal to win the final for your team? Would your name be the name on everyone’s lips? Surely just the stuff of dreams!
Well these dreams came through for young Liam Collins in the U11 Roinn A County Football final last week, as he rifled the ball into the top corner of the net, with the last kick of the game, to win a captivating final for St. Colmcille’s, Templemore. It was a goal that sparked wild celebrations among the large Templemore crowd and broke the hearts of all those supporting St. Peter and Paul’s, Clonmel.
The game was frantic throughout, with both sides creating lots of scoring chances despite ferocious defending and scrambling. St. Colmcille’s managed three first half points, two from the lively Zac Quinlan and one from a Liam Collins free. This however would only be enough to stay within touching distance of an impressive Clonmel team who scored two goals on top of a similar number of points as the boys in green.
The middle of the field was proving to be pivotal, and Ryan Loughnane and Seán Walsh were busy throughout the game as they covered every inch of Leahy Park. Being six points down at half time meant it was do or die for Templemore. Another goal for St. Peter and Paul’s would surely be enough to clinch the title. However David Augustianak and Cormac Bourke were proving to be impenetrable in the second half. Billy Collier, Joe Bourke and Shane Monaghan all worked their green and white socks off to ensure that Clonmel would fail to score in the second period. This would be a futile exercise however, were Templemore not to score at the other end.
Three well worked points, two from the left boot of Dayle Hogan and one from Tom Corcoran, firmly put the game back in the melting pot as only three points now separated the teams. The clock was counting down too quickly though and only two minutes remained. Jack Marnell and Niall Delaney were beginning to find space and test the Clonmel defence but still the gap remained.
Tensions soared. The noise level doubled. The clocked ticked on and everyone held their breath. Then bang! Tom Corcoran got a hand to a high ball and flicked it to the net. Level with only seconds remaining. Another high ball deep into Clonmel territory deceived everyone and up stepped Roy of the Rovers himself, Liam Collins. He gathered the ball, cut inside two defenders and from a tight angle rifled the ball into the top corner. Class!
Captain Shane Monaghan could hardly believe it as he accepted the trophy on behalf of one of the gutsiest teams to ever wear the green of St. Colmcille’s. This meant the U11 Roinn A trophy would return on the bus to Templemore for the second year in a row, and all the teachers present would agree, it was one of the livliest bus journeys ever!