The journey to Croke Park

Coláiste Mhuire came into this year’s Leinster PPS senior football campaign as defending champions and the pressure was on to deliver in a very competitive province.

Their defence of the Br Bosco Cup began well as they brushed aside Patrician College, Newbridge with five goals. They then went on to defeat St Peter’s Dunboyne and had a seven-point victory over neighbours St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge in the third round. An epic extra-time victory over St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, followed in the quarter-final and at that stage belief was starting to grow.

Naas CBS were strong opponents in the semi-final, but they were brushed aside in the second half;wwww the final against Athlone’s Marist College saw Coláiste Mhuire do likewise to win in convincing fashion.

It was then on to the All-Ireland semi-final as the battle for the Hogan Cup began and a thrilling extra-time victory over Abbey CBS, Newry, sent Coláiste Mhuire through to the decider for the first time.

Leinster PPS Senior Football ‘A’ (Br Bosco Cup)

Coláiste Mhuire 5-19, Patrician College, Newbridge 3-5

Coláiste Mhuire 3-11, St Peter’s, Dunboyne 1-10

Coláiste Mhuire 0-16, St Joseph’s SS Rochfortbridge 1-6

Coláiste Mhuire 1-12, St Pat’s, Navan 0-14 (After extra-time)

Coláiste Mhuire 2-16, Naas CBS 0-14 (semi-final)

Coláiste Mhuire 3-16, Marist College 2-13 (final)

All-Ireland PPS semi-final (Hogan Cup)

Coláiste Mhuire 1-23, Abbey CBS, Newry 3-12 (After extra-time)

Meet the Coláiste Mhuire players

Adam Buckley (Mullingar Shamrocks), Michael Moloney (The Downs), Seán Byrne (St Loman’s, Mullingar), Eoin Donohue (Milltown), Ty Masterson (Mullingar Shamrocks), Kian Loughlin (The Downs), Ben Sheerin (Mullingar Shamrocks), Críostóir Ormsby (Mullingar Shamrocks), Rory O’Brien (Shandonagh), Paul Keating (Mullingar Shamrocks), Michael Weir (capt.) (St Loman’s), Stephen McWade (Shandonagh), Will Scahill (Shandonagh), Finn Higgins (St Paul’s), Conor Cleary (The Downs). Subs: Seán Hayes (St Loman’s), James Flynn (Mullingar Shamrocks), Padraig Monaghan (The Downs), Ronan Byrne (Mullingar Shamrocks), Eoin Meehan (St Loman’s), Seamus O’Brien (St Loman’s), Eoin Mullin (The Downs), Rory McCaul (Mullingar Shamrocks), James Murtagh (Mullingar Shamrocks), Aaron Connaire (The Downs), James Baird (Ballynacargy), Beau Greene (St Loman’s), Killian Mooney (Mullingar Shamrocks), Michael Taggart (Killucan), Tristan Boyce Jordan (Ballynacargy).

How Tralee CBS qualified for the Hogan Cup final

Tralee CBS booked their place in the Hogan Cup decider with a dramatic 4-11 to 1-15 victory over St Gerald’s Castlebar in the semi-final at TUS Moylish in Limerick. The Kerry school’s challenge was inspired by the outstanding Gearóid White, whose leadership and scoring proved decisive at key stages. White had already kicked two two-point efforts in the first half before producing a crucial moment early in the second period. With Tralee CBS trailing by four points, the John Mitchels attacker embarked on a powerful run from deep before finishing to the net to spark his side back into contention.

Tralee CBS had opened their goal account in the 16th minute when Ronan Carroll finished calmly, and their attacking power would ultimately prove the difference. After White’s second-half goal, Mikey Corridon added a point before Nick Lacey struck for a third goal following good work from Tom Quilter and Carroll.

Corridon and Fionnán Ryan were influential from deep, while Mairtín McKivergan made a major impact around midfield, including a superb late free from outside the 40-metre arc. Lacey added another important score late on before Carroll sealed victory with his second goal after good build-up involving White and McKivergan, sending Tralee CBS through to Croke Park.

TRALEE CBS: Olivier Lata (Austin Stacks); Michael Enright (St Pat’s), Eoin Moriarty (Ballymacelligott), Stephen Turner (Ballymacelligott); Fionnán Ryan (Austin Stacks), Eoin O’Flaherty (Ardfert) 0-1, Mikey Corridon (Ardfert) 0-1; Mairtín McKivergan (Ballymacelligott) 0-3 (1 ‘45’, 1tpf), Cian McKenna (Churchill); Tadhg O’Connor (Ballyduff), Ronan Carroll (Austin Stacks) 2-1 (0-1f), Tom Quilter (Churchill); Ryan Hurley (St Senan’s), Gearoid White (John Mitchels) 1-4 (2 tp), Nick Lacey (Kerins O’Rahillys) 1-1. Subs: Cillian Hurley (St Senan’s) for O’Connor (50), Jack Power (Ardfert) for Moriarty (54), Darragh Murphy (St Pat’s) for Quilter (60+2).