By Ronan Cleary and Michael Dunne
Monday 8th December, 12:00pm
Leinster Senior Schools A, preliminary Quarter Final, Terenure College, Dublin.
In a gripping preliminary quarterfinal at Terenure College, Dublin. Coláiste Choilm produced a brave, hardworking display but ultimately fell to a ruthless late surge from Terenure College, who claimed a 5-09 to 2-08 victory to knock Coláiste Choilm out of the championship after an end-to-end contest.
Terenure College wasted no time showing why they carry such a strong threat. Mark Power curled over the opening score after four minutes before corner-forward Lucas McAllister added another. By the 8-minute mark, Billy Shouldice bagged a ruthless goal, a powerful finish after gathering a loose ball inside, and Coláiste Choilm suddenly stared at a 1-03 to 0-0 deficit. Coláiste Choilm needed a spark, they found one.
A free won by the lively Cormac Whittle brought Coláiste Choilm off the mark via Charlie Heffernan point. In the 12th minute, a high, looping effort from Paddy Burns, intended as an attempt for a point, dropped just under the crossbar and into the corner of the net, catching the Terenure keeper stranded. It was a slice of fortune for Coláiste Choilm, but a reward for the superb build-up play before the goal from players Robert Burns and Darragh Stewart. Suddenly, Coláiste Choilm were back alive.
Despite the home support from Terenure, Coláiste Choilm continued to deliver as Charlie Burns clipped over a tidy point and Eoin Rouse added another from a free to level matters at 1-3 apiece. When Charlie Burns knocked over the go-ahead point in the 23rd minute, Coláiste Choilm led for the first time, despite being down to a 6-point deficit in the opening ten minutes.
But Terenure, to their credit, didn’t blink. Thomas Tisdall and Oisín Costello, who both represent the club Naomh Jude in Dublin, responded quickly with a point each, nudging the home side back in front by the narrowest margin, 1-06 to 1-05 at the break.
With a strong wind and tensions high, the second half opened cagily. An early free from the ever-reliable Eoin Rouse levelled things at 1-06 each and Coláiste Choilm seemed to have regained momentum. Aidan Walsh produced a stunning save minutes later to keep Terenure out, a pivotal moment that was nearly the foundation of a Tullamore comeback.
Instead, it became the turning point in the opposite direction.
A high ball caused chaos in the Coláiste Choilm square on 45 minutes and Shouldice emerged again, smashing home his second goal to put Terenure ahead 2-6 to 1-6. Moments later Walsh denied another certain goal, but the pressure was becoming relentless.
Still, Coláiste Choilm fought. Paddy Burns fired over an inspirational point, then curled a gorgeous 45’ to drag the gap back to a single score at 2-06 to 1-08. The belief was back, until Terenure unleashed a devastating final quarter domination.
Terenure scored 3-3 in the final 10 minutes, a ruthless display of finishing power. Substitute Rory Curry ghosted through for a superb solo goal on 54 minutes, before Connor Quinn struck with another goal as Terenure pulled away. Charlie Burns did offer a late moment of magic, rifling a brilliant goal into the top corner, but the mountain was too steep by then. Terenure’s Connor Quinn delivered again in the final moments with a ‘soccer esque’ finish. Despite the bruising scoreline, this was far from a game where the scoreline reflected the intensity of the affair.
Coláiste Choilm played with heart, aggression, and desire to win. Many Coláiste Choilm players all left everything on the pitch. Aidan Walsh produced three top-class saves. The defence particularly Caden O’Beirne and Robert Burns providing crucial blocks in the first half. Two great goals from Paddy and Charlie Burns also helped Coláiste Choilm to close in on Terenure’s lead.
But Terenure’s physicality, depth, and killer instinct in front of goal proved decisive. Their ability to hit goals with players such as Billy Shouldice and Connor Quinn proving their skill at crucial moments simply overwhelmed Coláiste Choilm in the closing stages.
Colaiste Choilm Tullamore: Aidan Walsh (Tullamore), Robert Burns (Tullamore), Donal Dooley (Shamrocks), Caden O’Beirne (Tullamore), Charlie Heffernan (0-01) (Tullamore), Tadgh Kelly (St. Vincents), Louis Aubin (Tullamore), Eoin Rouse (Tullamore) (0-03) (Vice-Captain), Odhran Briody (Captain) (Rhode), Cormac Whittle (St. Vincents), Darragh Stewart (Tullamore), Cian Horkan (Tullamore), Paddy Burns (1-02) (St. Vincents), Charlie Burns (1-02) (St. Vincents), Patrick Duffy (Tullamore)
Management: David Dempsey, Keir Mannerings and Stephen Burns
SUBSTITUTES: 30’ Shane Lawless on (St. Vincents), Charlie Heffernan off
36’ Donnacha Cooney on (Na Fianna), Cormac Whittle off
55’ William Cronly on (Tullamore), Robert Burns off
Terenure College Dublin: Rory O’Donovan (Templeogue Synge Street), Conor Quigley (Ballyboden St. Endas), Jack Cooney (Ballyboden St. Endas), Con Fitzpatrick (Templeogue Synge Street), David Lombard (Templeogue Synge Street), James Norris (Ballyboden St. Endas), Issac Duffy (Templeogue Synge Street), Oisin Costello (Naomh Jude), Matthew Fowler (Templeogue Synge Street), Mark Power (Ballinteer St. Johns), Conor Quinn (Ballinteer St. Johns), Thomas Tisdall (Naomh Jude) , Alan Delaney (Ballyboden St. Endas), Billy Shouldice (Naomh Jude), Lucas McAllister (Ballyboden St. Endas)
Management: Padraig Forde, Kevin Roberts, James McCormack, Dan McCarthy