2023/24 was a year to remember for many of Coláiste Choilm Tullamore's sports teams. Not only that but it saw the introduction of our Sports Journalism Club. Here is a flavour of the year's key sporting action and some of our Journalists' season highlights.
Senior Basketball
By Szymon Skura
The Senior Basketball season ended up being one of the best in recent years. The CC boys gave their all this season with ups and downs. The Group stage went by swiftly with Coláiste Choilm record being 4-1 with their only lose being to St Finnian. A four and one record made CC come second in the group and qualify for the midlands final against the only team they lost to St Finnian’s.
CC won the game by achieving a magical comeback and qualifying for the All-Ireland round of 16. In the R16 they faced Coláiste Mhuire Cobh. CC boys again proofed there worth and made it to the All-Ireland Quarter final. In the last 1/8 CC came up short against Ballina. Ending one of the strongest seasons seen in a decade here in Coláiste Choilm.
Senior Football
By Ronan Cleary
An emphatic year of excellent displays from the Coláiste Choilm senior football team saw the school mark upon history, progressing to the Br. Bosco Cup Final for the first time in the school's existence. Coláiste Choilm’s first win of the season came at home in O’Connor Park as they excelled with goals from Cillian Bourke, Dara Bates and Ryan Kenny to overcome a valiant side in Marist college.
The road to the final was met with Moate Community college in the Preliminary quarter final. A 30-yard lob on goal from Cillian Bourke proved decisive as the men in red and blue edged out a one-point victory to continue their journey in the cup.
With eight in the competition remaining, Coláiste Choilm faced a determined Maynooth side, yet this wasn’t to stop the team. Goals from David O’Rourke and captain Stephen Doran led Coláiste Choilm into their third successive semi-final of the Leinster A schools football.
St Pat’s of Navan was the opponent faced in front for the school. Windy conditions did far from preventing a stellar performance from both sides with the game coming down to a late cameo from Cian Bracken, scoring two points to advance to the final and write the player’s names in history.
As excitement surrounded the entire school, A fixture versus Naas CBS was who Coláiste Choilm faced in the Br. Bosco Cup showdown. A thrilling display but a late goal from Naas saw the school from Kildare march to a four-point victory leaving Coláiste Choilm players and supporters heartbroken but proud.
A year for the history books that will be remembered in the school as this courageous group of players showed resilience and remarkable work to make the final of the highest level of school football played in Leinster and should be nothing but proud on how successful their Br. Bosco journey was.
Senior Hurling
By Cian Mannion
It wasn’t to be this year for Coláiste Choilm’s senior hurling team. ‘The Brothers’ fought to the end in their opening group game against Mullingar and preliminary quarter final versus Birr.
The championship year started off with a difficult trip to Mullingar to face Mullingar CBS. On a wet, cold day it was the hosts who emerged victorious after a dogged fight with 3 goals on the scoreboard helping them see the game out.
With only 2 teams in their group, Coláiste Choilm automatically qualified for a preliminary quarter final. With Birr topping their group, it was a trip to St Brendan's for ‘The Brothers’. A windy day on a boggy pitch led to little flow in the game along with a low scoring contest. Birr emerged winners on a score of 1-7 to 0-15 with Coláiste Choilm’s short year coming to an end.
U15 Soccer
By Sports Journalism Club
The U15 soccer team were a particular highlight for Coláiste Choilm soccer in 2023/24. They marched past St. Mel’s Longford in a tight affair back in January only to go on and beat Rochfortbridge in the final after a penalty shootout. A testament to their grit and resolve, CC U15s were full value for their impressive West Leinster Cup win here. Similarly, the talented U15’s reached the Leinster QF before being stopped in their tracks by a strong Moyle Park Dublin side. All in all, a successful year for a CC sport making serious strides in nearly each of its entered competitions.
Coláiste Choilm sporting highlights from our 2023/24 Sports Journalists
Ben Sewell: My personal highlight of the year was the senior basketball Coláiste Choilm match vs Coláiste Mhuire Cobh in the All-Ireland B, last 16 playoff. I was reporting on this match, we had a great audience attend the hall where the match was being played. We won 62 – 43 in what was a very impressive performance from all the players involved.
Cian Mannion: My highlight of the year for 2023-24 was the Leinster Senior Football Semi-Final in Killucan as Coláiste Choilm’s Senior footballers reigned supreme reaching the Brother Bosco Cup Final for the first time in their history. The game was a nail biter leading into the final minutes as 'The Brothers’ scored five late points to send themselves to the final. A massive game was matched by tremendous support from the Coláiste Choilm faithful as they sang and chanted all game long. An occasion to be remembered for sure!
Cian O'Brien, Jakub Skrzecz and Seamus McGuinness: In total we went to 11 matches. 8 were soccer, 2 were basketball and 1 was Gaelic football, but our greatest highlight was the U15 soccer winning the west Leinster cup. Coláiste Choilm U15 were defending the cup from last year's victory. They faced Rochfortbridge in the final. The game started with 2 quick goals from CC. Straight in the second half Evans slid in from behind Rochfortbridge’s striker and got a straight red card. This weakened the squad and Rochfortbridge fought back, levelling the game. The game went to penalties were McAndrew saved a penalty. McGinley took the last penalty and converted. Coláiste Choilm were west-Leinster champions.
Cillian Twomey: My highlight of the year was the senior basketball game Coláiste Choilm vs Coláiste Mhuire Cobh in the All-Ireland B, last 16 playoff. This was one of the only games I was able to report on this year as I was busy playing with the senior footballers. It was a great performance and Colaist Choilm won 62-43 and moved on the All-Ireland Quater final.
Ronan Cleary: Reporting on many games this season and across many sports, I would have to say that the senior football journey was an excitement to watch and even more to have the opportunity to report on their successes. My highlight would have to be the emphatic preliminary quarter final win over Moate C.S. A one-point victory with crazy drama at the end with confusion whether Cillian Bourke’s lob over the goalkeeper went into the net! This was an entertaining affair in tough conditions and great to watch.
Szymon Skura: I reported many games in bunch of different sports but, the one that stood out to me was the midlands final with a second half comeback being down by 17 points to win by 5. This moment was definitely my top highlight of the year as the atmosphere also topped that match.
Tomás McFadden: My personal highlight was when Coláiste Choilm beat Athlone Community College in a first-year cup game with late drama when David O Shea scored a rocket from a free kick from around the Halfway line. The game finished 3-2 and put Coláiste Choilm through to the next round.