A phone call at 10.07am confirmed that the new set of jerseys had left the Azzurri factory just outside Waterford city and the delivery should arrive at Leahy Park, Cashel just in time for the U13 Roinn A county football final. The new set of jerseys was green and donned with the crest of St. Colmcille’s Primary School, Templemore. Whether they would be worn for the first time depended on a courier named Niall and the traffic on the N24.
As Niall left Waterford, the boys in Templemore tucked into an early lunch, packed up their bags and all 89 pupils and 15 staff boarded two of Ned Callanan’s best buses. The journey to Cashel was a familiar one. Only two years ago this journey was also taken when St. Colmcille’s won their first ever Roinn A football title. The opposition today was also the same, St. Peter and Pauls, Clonmel.
As the buses arrived in LeahyPark, so did Niall and the new set of jerseys were handed out to 28 young footballers who grew six inches taller in their new attire. Coaches Denis Kelly, Conor Doyle and Kieran Healy led the team through an intense warm up before sharing words of encouragement and inspiration that each coach hoped would be the difference between winning and losing.
Within minutes of the start, St. Colmcille’s had the ball in the net as Ali Aissou proved he is the man for the big occasion. Surprisingly this was the first time all season that Templemore scored first. Against Scoil Ailbhe, Tipperary Monastery and Two Mile Borris, they had been slow to start and an early lead was new territory. It got even better for Templemore as Conor Cadell somehow magiced enough space for himself to kick the first point of the game. It was evident that the boys in green meant business and if St. Peter and Pauls were to have any say in the match, they were going to have to earn it the hard way.
Sure enough the boys from Clonmel were to answer the challenge by scoring a vital goal mid way through the first half. This however would prove to be their only score of the half as Eoin Quinn, Jack Nevin and Marco Quinlan, on the half back line for Templemore, attacked every ball that came their way and cut off all supply to the inside forwards. The strength of the fabric of Killian Fennell’s new jersey was then tested when he burst through the Clonmel defence as he was pulled to the ground. Lorcan Roche calmly slotted the ball over the bar to the delight of a large Templemore crowd in the packed stand.
Another foul led to Templemore being awarded a penalty as the first half neared an end. A super save from the Clonmel ‘keeper seemed to give them the impetus to push on as Templemore found themselves defending wave after wave of attack. Not to be outdone by his opposite number, Shane Sweeney produced the save of the match, diving to his right in what now appears to have been the turning point in this hard fought battle. The final kick of the first half was one of the sweetest. Diarmuid Delaney found a yard of space to float a priceless point between the sticks leaving three points between the teams as the half time whistle blew.
The second half continued in much the same vein. Ewan Scott and Ali Aissou pointed for Templemore after some wonderful interplay. St. Peter and Pauls responded with two points of their own. Neither team was willing to concede while the supporters were enthralled in a wonderful spectacle. Then a lethal blow. A poacher’s goal from Ciarán McCormack seemed to put distance between the teams as Templemore now led 2-5 to 1-2. The final five minutes were played out within metres from Shane Sweeney’s well guarded goal. The full back line of Niall Moloney, Stephen Cahill and Darragh Doyle provided an exhibition of defending as they blocked, tackled, dived and refused to allow anyone breach one of the meanest defences seen this year. Although one final point was conceded to St. Peter and Pauls it would prove too little too late as the referee blew a whistle which ignited memorable celebrations.
Captain Martin Bergin, who played a pivotal role as sweeper in the second half, accepted the trophy from Cumann na mBunscol Secretary Aodán Wrenn, a trophy which St. Colmcille’s has now won twice in three years. Not bad for a school who played Roinn C a mere six years ago.
The brand new jerseys were removed and placed in the gear bag, soiled and damp. Their first outing will never be forgotten. Perhaps in the future they will be worn on days that don’t go so well. But for the moment, the new set of jerseys are undefeated, priceless and in need of a wash!
Photos
Congratulations to our U13 football team who beat St. Peter and Pauls, Clonmel in the Roinn A County Football final in Cashel today. The final score was 2-5 to 1-3 after an enthralling contest. Captain Martin Bergin accepted the trophy on behalf of a wonderful group of players. Goals from Ciarán McCormack and Ali Aissou proved crucial. Man of the Match, Lorcan Roche chipped in with a point. Other score came from Ewan Scott, Conor Cadel and Diarmuid Delaney. A full match report will follow.
Well done boys! You made us all very proud today.
[nggallery id=45]