Marist hold nerve in epic to reach knockout stages

Marist College 3-11 Terenure College 0-17

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Marist College are into the knockout stages of the Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ Championship after surviving a titanic battle with Terenure College in perfect conditions at Kiltoom on Tuesday of last week.

It was a game that had everything. A nine-point first-half lead, a devastating comeback, two-pointers from all angles, and a grandstand finish played out with Marist down to 14 men. In the end, it was the brilliance of Seán Whittaker, the composure of substitute Aodhan Fallon, and sheer bloody-minded character and resilience that got the Athlone school over the line.

Terenure College started much brighter and looked intent on setting the tone early. Their half-backline was sharp and they were on top at midfield. They moved the ball with real intent. Donal Clair opened the scoring with a well-taken point from play, before Ben Mulvihill doubled their advantage after a flowing move. When David Lombard added a third, the Dublin side was 03 to 0-0 up and looking comfortable. But that sense of comfort only lasted about ten minutes.

Looking to respond, Marist became more aggressive in the tackle as they tried to get possession back. A wayward effort for a point from Daragh Murray, stationed at full-forward, dropped short and into the danger area. Alert to the opportunity, Fiachra Feeney pounced, collecting the breaking ball and finishing it to the net past a stranded Rory O’Donovan. A goal out of nothing, and a complete shift in momentum.

If the first goal was opportunistic, the second was outrageous. It will be talked about in the corridors of the Marist for some time.

Seán Whittaker, playing at midfield, collected possession fully 50 metres from the Terenure goal. What followed was individual brilliance of the highest order. The Tubberclair man, younger brother of All-Star nominee Matthew, set off on a surging run, carrying straight through the heart of the Terenure defence. He brushed off one attempted tackle, rode another, and unleashed a thunderous shot that nestled in the back of the net. The keeper could only watch as it flew past him.

Marist then took complete control. They dropped deep, packed their defence with bodies and dared Terenure to break them down. The Dublin side struggled badly with the congested rearguard. They tried to go around it, then over it, but kept coughing up possession to a hungry Marist backline that hunted in packs.

When they did turn it over, Marist were ruthless on the counter. Daragh Murray, who was a constant handful at full-forward, kicked their first point of the day to stretch the lead.

Then came goal number three. This time it was Luke Glennon who was the finisher, finding the corner of the net with a composed finish after excellent approach work. Suddenly, with only 20 minutes on the clock, the scoreboard read Marist 3-1, Terenure 0-4. The Athlone school had turned a three-point deficit into a six-point lead in a devastating burst.

Further scores from Murray settled Marist, before Whittaker again gave a glimpse of his immense talent. First, he kicked a fine point from play, and then, from distance, he landed a huge two-point free, a kick that showcased his range and technique. It was a fitting way to end the first half, with Marist leading 3-5 to 0-5 at the interval.

Whatever was said in the Terenure huddle at half-time worked, but Marist also handed them a lifeline immediately after the restart. Wing-back James Pettit was shown a black card for a cynical foul as Terenure broke at pace, and Marist were reduced to 14 men for ten minutes.

With momentum now in their favour, Terenure began to run at the Marist defence, instead of trying to go around a congested defence, they realised the best way through that is with pace and aggression and with far more purpose.

Their revival was spearheaded by Ronan O’Dell (brother of Dublin footballer Lorcan), who was unerring from placed balls.

O’Dell landed free after free, and with Marist now struggling to get out of their own half, the gap began to shrink alarmingly. Terenure were no longer trying to play around Marist, they were running straight at them, committing defenders and drawing fouls. The tactic worked perfectly. A point blank save from Zac Mullally (Clann na nGael) also saved the Marist from more damage on the scoreboard.

By the third quarter, the scoreboard made for nervous reading for the home team. A nine-point lead had been slashed considerably. By the 50th minute, it was a two-point game. Another boomer of a two-point free from Jack Ledridge left Marist leading 3-6 to 0-13.

You could now feel the tension in Kiltoom. The Marist lads were in real trouble, their early energy sapped, their defence creaking. They needed something from somewhere, they needed a leader. They got one in Whittaker. Moved further inside in attack to try and get scores, the former Westmeath minor began to express himself again.

Under immense pressure, Whittaker produced two moments of incredible composure and skill, kicking two phenomenal two-pointers from play. Both were struck from distance, under pressure, when his team needed them most.

They were scores that didn’t just add to the tally, they wrested back the initiative and lifted the entire Marist team. Marist 3-9 Terenure 0-13.

But Terenure were again encouraged by Marist indiscipline. Pettit, who hadn’t long returned from the sin-bin, was shown a yellow card for a late tackle. Because he had already received a black card earlier in the game, the yellow was followed by a red, and Marist were down to 14 men again, this time for good.

Encouraged by the extra man, the Dublin school upped the ante. They responded with one of the scores of the second half. Jack Ledridge, who had been excellent throughout, kicked an exceptional two-point free. It was struck off the outside right foot, out on the right wing, and sailed over. Minutes later, he did it again. Another two-pointer, this time from play and, suddenly, there was just a single point between the sides as the clock went red: Marist 3-10 Terenure 0-17.

Terenure had all the momentum. That was when Marist management made the call that won the game. They introduced young Athlone player Aodhan Fallon (son of former Westmeath player Joe Fallon), from the bench.

It was a brave substitution, throwing a youngster into a cauldron. Fallon did not flinch. With his first touch, he was unlucky with his attempt, but on his second touch, he collected possession on the edge of the ‘D’ and kicked the insurance score - a vital point that pushed Marist two clear and finally broke Terenure’s resistance. The final whistle blew shortly after, with the Marist victors by three points.

It was a win built on hard work and resilience as well as some fine scores. For Terenure, there will be huge pride in how they fought back and how players like O’Dell and Ledridge stood up. They will feel they left it behind when they had the extra man for a period of the second half.

For Marist, it is knockout football secured and a lesson learned. When they are direct and clinical, they can live with anyone in Leinster. They will need that form, and that character shown in the final ten minutes, if they are to go any deeper in this competition. And to do it with 14 players in the closing stages should give the group huge belief.

Player of the match: Sean Whittakar (Marist College). Whittaker won this game twice for his team, the first half when they were dominant, he kicked an outrageous goal and a two-pointer from a free. In the second half, the Tubberclair man moved inside and became the go-to-man when they needed scores and he kicked two huge two-pointers to win the game. Others to contribute significantly were Tadgh Fallon, who turned over Terenure possession and started attacks; Daragh Murray, who showed continuously for possession at full-forward and then went midfield in the last ten minutes to assist in this area; and Sean McDonnell, who led the defence from centre-back courageously. For Terenure, Jack Ledridge, Donal Clair and Ronan O’Dell almost got their team over the line.

Scorers - Marist: S Whittaker 1-8 (2tp, 1tpf, 1f); F Feeney and L Glennon 1-0 each; D Murray 0-2; A Fallon 0-1. Terenure: R O’Dell 0-7 (1tpf, 4f); J Ledridge 0-6 (2tpf, 1tp); D Lombard, B Mulvihill, D Clair and J Brady 0-1 each.

Marist College, Athlone - Zac Mullally; Sean Keegan, Daniel Crosby, Ruairi Nicholson; Ryan Hughes, Sean McDonnell, James Pettit; Tadgh Fallon, Sean Whittaker; Donnachadh O’Dwyer, Dara Geary, Eoin Carr; Luke Glennon, Daragh Murray, Fiachra Feeney. Subs used: Aodhan Fallon, Patrick Collins, Jack Sammon, Gary Staunton.

Terenure College - Rory O’Donovan; Conor McCarthy, Arthur Duffy, Conor Deasy; Matthew Fowler, Rian Ennis, David Lombard; Finn Connellan, James Browne; Donal Clair, Daithi Gannon, Jack Ledridge; Ronan O’Dell, Ben Mulvihill, Jack Brady. Sub used: Conor O’Brien.

Referee - Eamon O’Connor (Offaly).