Coláiste Mhuire ‘very aware’ of threat of fine Marist side

Bro Bosco Cup Final Preview: Coláiste Mhuire v Marist College

By Gerry Buckley

A whopping 43 years since the same two schools clashed in Kinnegad in the Leinster final, TEG Cusack Park will be the venue next Saturday when the holders Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar meet Marist College, Athlone, with the prestigious Bro Bosco Cup as the prize.

This will be a fifth provincial senior football ‘A’ final for the Mullingar school, having won the above final in 1983 as well as last year, in addition to enduring two losses in 1987 and 1988. The Athlone school has suffered the misfortune of losing all its previous five finals – 1983, 1999, 2014, 2016 and 2018. It was clear from talking to the three members of the Coláiste Mhuire management last week that they would wish next Saturday’s opponents well in different circumstances but, naturally, their firm focus is to prolong Marist College’s agony for at least one more year.

As was the case last season, Coláiste Mhuire’s management is shared by Dean McNicholas, Brian Murtagh and Matthew Kearney, and they are very much looking forward to patrolling the line in their second successive decider.

Dean is well known in Westmeath GAA circles as a longstanding and key member of the Tyrrellspass senior football team and, at the outset, he conceded that their 2025/26 campaign took longer to take shape than last year’s winning one.

In this regard, he opined: “We probably couldn’t have imagined reaching two consecutive finals at the start of last year. We probably did a lot less work this year at the start than last year, as the two Westmeath county minor finals were delayed. We had to pull out of five scheduled challenges and, some weeks, we only trained once a week and we had a few injuries. However, since the (St Patrick’s) Navan game things have picked up and we are showing a bit of form now.”

He continued: “There’s great momentum here with the senior hurlers having gone so well, although that brings its own challenges trying to manage both codes because of the overlap of players. Unfortunately, one of the dual players, Criostóir Ormsby, missed the hurlers’ semi-final loss through injury, but we should have a full panel to pick from next Saturday.”

Many of the players from both sides clashed at junior level two years ago, with Coláiste Mhuire winning on penalties. “It went to a penalty shootout and I remember the drama. I don’t remember much of the actual game itself. Luck was on our side that day. The lads made the most of that luck by going on to win the Leinster,” he reflected.

The early-morning training sessions of the reigning champions are well documented. Dean explained this as follows: “We were out this morning at 7 o’clock. It works for our school as we don’t have any pitches on the grounds. We are very lucky that (Mullingar) Shamrocks give us the pitch at that time. There are no lights down in the Harbour Field. There’s a lot made about the 7am sessions, but we’re left with no choice really.”

He accepted that many players will know their opposite number well. “There’s a particular underage rivalry between Tubberclair and (Mullingar) Shamrocks in recent years. When you go into a local derby, form can go out the window. It will come down to who performs best on the day. Marist have momentum behind them and have ridden their luck similar to the way Dingle won their recent club All-Ireland,” he concluded.

Midfield battle is key

Forgney man Matt clarified that “we are fortunate to have seven from last year’s starting 15 and another 10/12 from the panel available to us this year”, before he added: “We are delighted the game will be in TEG Cusack Park, it is the county ground and it’s great for the young lads themselves. Those lads should get lots of exposure to it and I think it’s going to be a brilliant occasion for our lads and the Marist lads.

They have huge momentum behind them and I’d say there is a brilliant spirit and atmosphere in the school at the minute. They are backboned by top, top footballers. We’re very wary of that. They have lost a few Leinster finals and people say you have to lose one to win one. On the law of averages, they are probably due one. Obviously, we’re hoping that it’s not on Saturday!”

He continued: “We are aware as a school, and as a management team, that it’s going to be a huge, huge ask. You don’t get to Leinster finals easily. We would have seen that down through the years when we thought we had good teams, and we couldn’t get over the quarter-final stage. Last year felt special and we took it game by game.

“This year, we had a huge game against St Pat’s of Navan which went down to the last kick in normal time. In the semi-final, we played Naas CBS who are the form team in Leinster over the past decade, and we got over that. Now you’re back to zero again and facing one of your nearest neighbours, a team backboned by huge potential. We’re very aware of the threat they pose.”

Honing in on some likely key areas in the final, he concluded: “With the new rules, midfield is a key battle. Winning it dictates the outcome in a lot of games. They are very strong there. Up front, they have put up huge scores, even allowing for the last two games going to extra-time. Our defenders need to be ready for that attacking threat.”

Special occasion

Roscommon native Brian is aware that the Marist College team – as usual – will feature some fellow-county men. “From my end, there’s a couple of Roscommon lads, Diarmuid O’Higgins and Tadgh Fallon. They are coming from strong clubs in St Brigid’s and Clann na nGael. They have (Donal) Dawson coming up from Limerick as well. They are a quality outfit,” he stated.

Naturally, he was tuned into the large Westmeath contingent on board, and opined: “You can’t look past (James) McHugh when you look at the games on Clubber or read the reports. He’s scoring very heavily. He’s been fiercely impressive. Young (Sean) Whittaker is a class act. He’s able to carry the ball and he creates a lot for McHugh.”

“Hurt can be a great motivation, even going back to that U16 game two years ago, as well as all the losing senior finals. They will be hard beaten,” he concluded.

All three were keen to acknowledge the local community for their sponsorship and support, and are glad that Mullingar businesses will benefit from what should be a bumper crowd next Saturday. Like all football fans in the Lake County, they are eagerly awaiting what should be a special occasion and a riveting contest in TEG Cusack Park.