The countdown has begun to an eagerly awaited Roinn A County Football Final in Clonmel next Friday, 18th November. This will be St. Colmcille’s third appearance in the ‘A’ final in four years and we will be hoping that it will be third time lucky having narrowly lost both previous finals.
One of those losses came in Templemore last November when St. Mary’s CBS, Clonmel won a cracking final by a mere two points. It was the hurt and pain of that loss that inspired St. Colmcille’s to seek revenge over the Clonmel team in the County Semi final in Cashel onThursday.
St. Mary’s started the brighter of the two teams and within thirty seconds of the throw-in, had the first score of the game, a well worked point and a statement of intent. Within minutes they had doubled their lead and St. Colmcille’s knew that this was going to be a tough day at the office. Coming off the back of two wins, over a fancied Scoil Ailbhe, St. Colmcille’s dug deep to haul themselves back into the game.
Andrew Ormond got the show on the road with a confident kick from thirty five metres to open his account. Points followed from man-of-the-match Paddy Cadell and centre forward Michael Fogarty. Quick thinking from a free kick by Éanna McBride freed up some space as he powered forward from centre back to score a well deserved point. Four points to two and the many parents and supporters present from Templemore cheered with approval. After an exchange of frees, both teams took a well earned half-time break to rehydrate and talk tactics with Templemore holding a narrow lead of five points to three.
St. Mary’s CBS owned the ball for the first seven minutes of the second half as they looked to stamp their authority on the game. Stoic defending from Ciarán Byrne, Ben Collins, Ruairi Mockler, Hugh Maher and an ever improving Shane Doyle just about managed to keep them at bay. This St. Colmcille’s team consists of players from third to sixth class and it was the two youngest boys on the field who helped St. Colmcille’s find their next two crucial scores. Conor Cadell fought bravely for a breaking ball, won a free and left it to his older brother Paddy to convert it superbly. The next cameo came from Diarmuid Delaney, who scored a well taken point from a difficult angle.
Not to be outshone and in typical St. Mary’s spirit, the Clonmel team rallied to take the next two points and suddenly the game was back in the melting pot. Minutes remained and only two points separated the teams. Then came the vital score. A high ball was launched into the box by Edward Bergin which was fisted to the net by Michael Fogarty and suddenly the mountain looked too much to climb for a tiring St. Mary’s.
Late chances fell to Ciarán Hoctor, Diarmuid Delaney and Aaron Fogarty but St. Colmcille’s had already done enough to secure a place in the coveted ‘Roinn A’ final next week. It could all have been very different had it not been for three vital saves from goalkeeper Kuba Beben, who had his best game between the posts to date.
The opposition on Friday will be St. Peter’s and Paul’s, Clonmel who last played St. Colmcille’s in a county semi final three years ago. Let’s hope the boys in green can continue their remarkable run of results and bring home a title which had never been won by St. Colmcille’s before. I’m sure Mr. Doyle, Mr Kelly and Mr. Healy would settle for a one point win in what is sure to be a keenly contested final.