Croke Park..the scene for the Marist's Leinster final against Colaiste Eoin on Saturday.

The weekend that was in sport ... Marist set up Croker trip

 

IT was a generally successful weekend for local sport with Marist College claiming many of the headlines with their fantastic victory over Good Counsel, New Ross in last Saturday’s Leinster Schools SF 'A’ Championship semi-final in Crettyard.

Two superb goals - scored by Conor Marlowe and Charlie McMickan helped Marist to a 2-15 to 1-5 victory, as they picked up where they left o- ff against Wicklow Schools in the quarter-finals.

The Athlone side raced into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead before Good Counsel pulled a goal back before half-time to leave it 1-2 to 1-8 at the break.

The Marist remained in control after the restart, as Athlone clubman McMickan struck late to seal an emphatic win.

They will face Stillorgan’s Colaiste Eoin in the final after they beat the holders St Pat’s, Navan on an impressive 4-10 to 2-6 scoreline at Parnell Park.

The final will take place this Saturday at Croke Park (5pm), as the Marist chase a historic first ever Leinster senior title.

In the Allianz Football League last weekend, Roscommon stayed on course for promotion from Division 3 with a third straight league win, this time against Limerick in Kiltoom. Westmeath, however, suffered a third straight loss in Division 1 against Derry.

In the ladies football league Division 2, Westmeath had a noteworthy victory against long-standing rivals Meath.

Meanwhile, in soccer, Athlone Town will begin their first season in the top-flight of the League of Ireland for 18 years this Saturday night when they travel to Sligo Rovers (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm).

In another attractive soccer fixture this week, Athlone IT are bidding to win the CFAI Umbro Cup tomorrow (Tuesday) when they face IT Carlow in the final at Lissywollen (kick-off: 6pm).

The AIT team boasts three players that helped Athlone Town win last season’s Airtricity League First Division title.

*See this week's Westmeath Independent for an extensive preview on Athlone Town's season and match reports from several of the aforementioned games from last weekend.