Spirited Coláiste Mhuire hurlers reach Leinster quarter-final

Coláiste Mhuire 0-18, Coláiste Eoin 2-11

By Gerry Buckley

A very skilful and hugely spirited side from Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar raised many eyebrows in established hurling nurseries in Leinster last Tuesday afternoon by deservedly defeating Coláiste Eoin, Stillorgan by the narrowest of margins on the astro turf pitch in UCD, thereby qualifying for the quarter-finals of the prestigious Corn Uí Dhúill.

This was a terrific game which, thankfully, was played before the much-feared Storm Bram took hold in Dublin. The boys in green and navy are debutants in the senior ‘A’ grade, but this display proved beyond doubt that they belong in this elite company. The concession of goals early in both halves failed to dampen their spirits and they earned their place in the quarter-finals in January 2026 with a truly uplifting performance.

In truth, another dreaded ‘moral victory’ looked likely at the end of the third quarter when they trailed by two points. Many of this bunch of players have suffered heartbreak at the top table of the small ball game in the province over the past couple of seasons, and they displayed individual and collective resilience beyond their tender years to eke out this wonderful victory.

Seán Hayes opened the scoring with just ten seconds on the clock, but the metropolitans responded with a third-minute goal from close range by Cathal Ó Cuanaigh (after Tomás Ambróis’ initial effort had been kept out), quickly followed by an inspirational point from skipper Rory Ó Flannabhra. The winners then put a couple of disappointing misses behind them to rifle over five unanswered points by the 12th minute, courtesy of Kian Loughlin (two – open play and a free), Conor Williams, and Pádraig Monaghan (a great brace from play despite being pressurised). A point exchange between Ambróis and Loughlin (a ‘65’) left Coláiste Mhuire ahead by 0-7 to 1-2 at the midpoint of the first moiety.

Ó Flannabhra doubled his haul in great fashion before tit-for-tat scoring followed in the second quarter, via Conal Ó Suilleabhán (a free – the award seemed harsh against the winners’ outstanding captain Darragh Kenny) and his opposite number Loughlin (a delightful score from play), Williams and Dara Ó Craidhn (both well-worked), Cormac Ó Gradaigh and Williams (moments after Cathal Óg Fagan had saved smartly at the other end from Ó Gradaigh), and Monaghan and Ó Suilleabhán (a classy score in added-time). This left the scoreline at the interval reading: Coláiste Mhuire 0-11 Coláiste Eoin 1-7.

Kenny teed up Loughlin for the first score on the change of ends, but the boys in the hooped jerseys soon took the lead when a great move ended with half-time sub Donnchadh Ó Dochraigh batting the sliotar to the net. Ó Gradaigh tagged on a fine point to put the losers two clear with 36 minutes elapsed. Eight scoreless minutes ensued, during which both sides were guilty of disappointing shot selection, before Loughlin (a routine free) and Rian Ó Crualaíoch (a great score under pressure) swapped points, leaving Coláiste Eoin ahead by two points (2-9 to 0-13) at the end of the third quarter.

Loughlin and Rossa Mac Gabhann soon exchanged points from play. Wonderful defending by Mikey Weir on the threatening Mac Gabhann quickly followed, before the Mullingar boys pounced for three crucial point without reply between the 50th and 53rd minutes from the sticks of Williams (arguably the score of the game from a very acute angle), Conor Cleary (moments after Williams had solid claims for a penalty waved away), and Loughlin (following a weak effort from his colleague Niall Brady). Great work by Williams set up Monaghan for a point on the hour mark. Sub Stephen McWade was wide when a goal beckoned, but Coláiste Eoin could only halve the two-point deficit in the time remaining via Ó Gradaigh’s third point from open play deep into injury-time.

Scorers – Coláiste Mhuire: K Loughlin 0-8 (2f, 1‘65’), C Williams, P Monaghan 0-4 each, S Hayes, C Cleary 0-1 each.

Coláiste Eoin: C Ó Cuanaigh, D Ó Dochraigh 1-0 each, C Ó Gradaigh 0-3, R Ó Flannabhra, C Ó Suilleabhán (1f) 0-2 each, R Mac Gabhann, R Ó Crualaíoch, D Ó Craidhn, T Ambróis 0-1 each.

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: Cathal Óg Fagan; Niall Brady, Mikey Weir, Aaron Flanagan; Finn Raeside, Darragh Kenny, Seán Byrne; Seán Hayes, Conor Cleary; Criostóir Ormsby, Kian Loughlin, Eoin Meehan; Pádraig Monaghan, Conor Williams, Eoin McGrath. Subs used: Hugo Corroon for Hayes (30), Stephen McWade for Raeside (46), Liam Heffernan for Meehan (46), Seán Hayes for McGrath (57).

Coláiste Eoin, Stillorgan: Darragh Inglis; Cian Ó Donghaille, Aidan Mac Donncha, Alan Ó Mairtín; Rossa Mac Gabhann, Rory Ó Flannabhra, Finnian Ó Donnchú; Cillian Ó Se, Cormac Ó Gradaigh; Rian Ó Crualaíoch, Conal Ó Suilleabhán, Dara Ó Craidhn; Tomás Ambróis, Cathal Ó Cuanaigh, Eoin Ó hÉalaí. Subs used: Donnchadh Ó Dochraigh for Ó hÉalaí (h-t), Harry Mac Ambróis for Ambróís (55), Harry Ó Conaill for Ó Craidhn (55).

Ref: Brian O’Connor (Dublin).