2020 Team of the Year award for St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge

ORS Ireland are the sponsors for a new award in this alternative, lockdown-era Westmeath Examiner Sports Awards format – the award for Team of the Year, which for 2020 goes to the senior footballers of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge.

Under the management of Luke Dempsey and John Rouse, the Rochfortbridge school stopped the Kildare football nursery Naas CBS in their quest for a third consecutive Leinster Colleges SFC ‘A’ title, and in doing so, annexed the Bro Bosco Cup for the first time in their history. They also became the first Westmeath school to win the competition since Athlone Community College in 2008.

The competition started all the way back in November 2019, and in their six straight wins en route to the final, the ‘Bridge floored some heavy hitters – including St Pat’s, Navan and Dublin’s Coláiste Eoin.

The final was due to take place on March 14 of last year, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. At one point, it looked as if it mightn’t have gone ahead at all.

However, on July 24, the ‘Bridge finally had their day in the sun, and defeated Naas in Tullamore in a score of 2-13 to 0-15, with an early goal from Devin Hill setting them on their way.

While we all regret not seeing St Joseph’s getting the chance to have a crack at the Hogan Cup, nothing can diminish their achievement last July and they are our worthy Team of the Year award winners.