Br Bosco Cup holders make winning start
Leinster Post Primary Schools SFC 'A' First Round: Coláiste Mhuire 2-9, St Benildus 1-9
by Kevin Egan
The reigning Hogan and Brother Bosco Cup champions are up and running in their bid to defend those two titles, but it was a functional rather than flamboyant win that they posted against Dublin's St. Benildus at Springfield last Friday, one where arguably they were only the better team for the third quarter of the contest.
The home side’s 1-5 to 1-0 run in that period of the game, during which time the breeze favoured their South Dublin opponents, gave them the cushion to concede 0-5 unanswered in the final quarter, but it could have been a very different story if St. Benildus had been even a touch more accurate with any one of a handful of two-point chances after half-time.
Coláiste Mhuire had six wides of their own, all in the first half, and only a couple of minutes of stoppage time remained when St. Benildus’ centre forward Jack Glass hoisted over a two-pointer to leave just one score between the teams, but against a side that was not earmarked as one of the likely contenders for this Leinster championship, Dean McNicholas and his coaches will feel that they could have been that bit more efficient and ruthless at times.
Yet in that third quarter, they were exactly that. The breeze had blown at the Mullingar school’s backs in the first half but they struggled to make it count, failing to build on their early 0-4 to 0-1 lead. Stephen McWade kicked two nice points before Aaron Connaire lofted over a two-pointer to establish a strong position, but the St. Benildus’ half-back line quickly took control of the game, boosted by Max Morrison throwing his large frame around the place with gusto at midfield.
They added a string of wides while the Dublin school levelled the tie with three points in succession, and it was only a straightforward route one goal, Colm Clinton adding the finish after he leapt up to claim Ted Aherne’s shot that dropped short, that Coláiste Mhuire had some breathing room to work with.
The wind couldn’t do much to help St. Benildus however when Coláiste Mhuire had the ball, and for the duration of the third quarter, that was usually the state of play. Long spells of methodical, probing possession yielded points for the St. Loman’s duo of MJ Long and Michael Brennan, and while St. Benildus were thrown a lifeline when a long-range Ronan Murray free was not held and Barry Dardis slapped the football to the net, the reply was immediate.
Murray had been exceptional from kickouts, frees and open play all day but his one attempt to go short was ruthlessly punished by Stephen McWade, who darted in and picked out the bottom corner of the net with a simple, but devastatingly effective finish.
Seán Byrne was next on the scoresheet with what would have been another hammer blow to St. Benildus’ self-belief, as it came at the end of another lengthy move in which the Coláiste Mhuire players used and control the ball with composure and focus.
Whether it was the desperation of their opponents or a lack of energy from the home side, the momentum of the game shifted dramatically for the final quarter. Coláiste Mhuire held firm close to their own goal, never giving up any good goal chances and restricting St. Benildus to three long-range scores (two double and a ’45), as well as several more efforts that, fortunately from the champions’
perspective, went astray. It meant that as victories go, it wasn’t emphatic or authoritative, but it was enough.
Scorers for Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar: S McWade 1-3 (0-2f), C Clinton 1-0, A Connaire 0-2 (tp), P Monaghan 0-1f, MJ Long 0-1, M Brennan 0-1, S Byrne 0-1.
Scorers for St. Benildus’ College: J Glass 0-4 (0-1f, 1tp), B Dardis 1-0, R Murray 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 45), M Morrison 0-2 (tp), O Chambers 0-1.
COLÁISTE MHUIRE, MULLINGAR: Tom McCaul (Mullingar Shamrocks); Eoin Donoghue (Milltown), Tom Weir (St. Loman’s), Eoin Daly (The Downs); Conor Maleady (St. Loman’s), Seán Byrne (St. Loman’s), Conor Cleary (The Downs); Pádraig Monaghan (The Downs), MJ Long (St. Loman’s); Michael Brennan (St. Loman’s), Hugo Corroon (Mullingar Shamrocks), Aaron Connaire (The Downs); Stephen McWade (Shandonagh), Ted Aherne (Mullingar Shamrocks), Colm Clinton (Mullingar Shamrocks).
Subs used: Josh Murtagh (The Downs) for Clinton (39), Tom O’Brien (Shandonagh) for Long (39), Zak Bates (Multyfarnham) for Brennan (44), David Reilly (Shandonagh) for Connaire (55).
ST. BENILDUS’ COLLEGE: Ronan Murray; Chris Cunningham, Oscar Palmer, Peter Cullinane; Ailbe O’Callaghan, Luke Lynch, Alex Deally; Max Morrison, Pearse Glendon; Connor McCluskey, Jack Glass, Andy McDonnell; Oscar Chambers, Jack Meaghar, Matthew Dardis.
Subs used: Charlie Saunders for Meaghar (46), Ciarán Nolan for Dardis (48).
Referee: Niall Ward (Garrycastle).
AT A GLANCE
Man of the Match
Conor Cleary (Coláiste Mhuire)
There was a noticeable bite in the air at Springfield for this game and the ground, while firm and fair, was a little bit softer than we’ve been used to for the past couple of months. Even so, conceding eight scores in an hour of football is impressive stuff, and for that reason it made sense to nominate a defender, namely Conor Cleary, as the main man.
Cleary can attack and carry the ball like any good modern wing back, but it was in his primary role of defending and marking where he really excelled, with a lot of good turnover wins.
Eoin Daly and Tom Weir also had good games further back while there was a lot to like about Hugo Corroon’s energy and endeavour at centre forward.
Max Morrison had a very strong start but Coláiste Mhuire gradually got to grips with him, while Andy McDonnell and Ailbe O’Callaghan were two other St. Benildus players that caught the eye.
What’s next
Coláiste Mhuire will make a relatively short road trip over to Edenderry today (Tuesday) for their second group game, taking on a St. Mary’s side that will be powered by Charlie Duffy and Cian McNamee from the Offaly minor team that won the 2025 Leinster title, as well as a handful of promising players from the Kildare side of the border.
Will Scahill was an unused sub in this game as he was allowed to rest up an injury but the Shandonagh attacker is expected to be available for selection in this fixture.