Marist College and Athlone CC face tough away games
by Kevin O'Neill Updated: Wednesday, 11th January, 2012 5:31pm
BOTH Athlone Community College and Marist College, Athlone begin the quest for the coveted Leinster Colleges SF 'A' Championship title this Friday, with both sides facing tough away fixtures in Round 1.
While Moate Community School - considered by many observers to be the most likely of the local teams to challenge for the title - have received a bye into the second round, both Athlone CC and Marist College face tricky opening round assignments this coming Friday.
Athlone CC - who famously won the title in 2008 - make the trek to Co. Kildare, where they take on Salesian College, Celbridge (school pitch, 1.30pm), while Marist College are involved in a midland derby, as they prepare to take on St Mary's, Edenderry (2pm).
Speaking ahead of the game against Salesian, Athlone CC manager Niall Finneran, who runs the team along with Tomás Gilleran, said that, at the moment, Athlone CC's ambitions for the competition go no further than beating Salesian.
"We have some very good players, and about eight or nine remain from last year's team that reached the last 16. Our initial aspiration is to try to defeat Salesian and take it from there. I think lots of people are talking about Moate CS this year, and I'd have to agree with that. They're very strong and could be in with a great chance of winning the championship. You never know, though, there could be a surprise package ready to come through and do well," said Padraig Pearses stalwart Finneran.
Athlone CC will be looking to the likes of Ray Connellan, David Brookes, Ronan Daly, Eoin McCormack and Michael McMahon for inspiration on Friday, but they face a stern test of their mettle so early in the competition.
Marist College manager, Con O'Meara, will be missing key midfielder Conor Seery after he damaged a hamstring, but believes the potential in the Marist forward line could see them through.
St Mary's, Edenderry were somewhat surprise Leinster winners and All-Ireland runners-up in 2009, and they reached the North Leinster SF 'A' League final before Christmas, losing narrowly to Moate CS. It's a formline which underlines the scale of the task facing the Marist on Friday.
O'Meara said: "It's going to be a very tough one for us. St Mary's don't tend to score too much, but are excellent at midfield and at winning breaking ball. Conor Seery will be a big loss at midfield for us, but we do have some serious forward potential, and hopefully that will help see us through. It's going to be a tough test, but hopefully the lads can get a win and progress to the last 16."
Meanwhile, Moate CS must wait for championship action, after receiving a bye to the last 16. After reaching the semi-finals last year, Moate are many people's favourites to clinch this year's title, though manager Peter Tormey, who is assisted by Garrycastle and Westmeath star Dessie Dolan, is cautious ahead of the championship.
"We were delighted to win league recently, and the lads have been working hard in training. Obviously, it's a very difficult competition with 23 teams and quality opposition such as St Pat's (Navan), Edenderry, Coláiste Eoin and Marist College. We don't play in the preliminary round, so the opposition we get will have a match played and momentum coming into our match on January 25."
Moate CS, along with Good Counsel College; St Peter's, Wexford; Coláiste Eoin; Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar; St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge; Dundalk Colleges (the reigning champions); St Pat's, Navan; and Knockbeg College, will enter the hat for the second round draw on January 15.
Leinster Colleges - local teams' record
*Athlone Community College reached their first ever Leinster SF 'A' Championship final in March, 2008, and memorably defeated Franciscan College, Gormanston (0-10 to 0-9) at Pearse Park, Longford, to become the first Westmeath school to clinch the title since St Mary's CBS, Mullingar in 1983. The Chris Ford/Niall Finneran/Val O'Connor managed outfit, captained by Tubberclair's Ian Coffey, sealed victory thanks to a late and unforgettable point by Ballinasloe's Padraig Cunningham. They went on to lose the All-Ireland semi-final to St Patrick's, Dungannon.
*Marist College have been to two Leinster final deciders in the past, but fell short on both occasions. They lost to St Mary's, Rochfortbridge in the 1983 final, before also falling at the final hurdle to Good Counsel in 1999. They will be hoping to improving on their most recent showings in the competition, having fielded quite young outfits in the recent past.
*Moate Community School opened in 1996, as a result of an amalgamation between Convent of Mercy Secondary School, Carmelite College and Moate Vocational School. The town of Moate has a glorious past association with the Leinster Colleges Championship, with Carmelite College winning six titles during a fantastic seven year period from 1975 to 1981, including a remarkable four-in-a-row between 1975 and 1978. Semi-finalists last year, Moate are tipped by many to go all the way this year.
