It’s a calm but exciting morning here in Moate as supporters of both extremely talented sides Coláiste Choilm and Moate wait on for the highly anticipated West Leinster final where the two teams clash in what promises to be a battle of two Titans chasing for nothing but glory.
The players arrive at 9:40 am in high spirits, knowing that they could be the Coláiste Choilm team to win this cup three years in a row, which will be an unimaginable victory for these boys and another great addition to the school’s trophy cabinet.
The lads waste no time, getting straight into a very professional and productive warm up, setting the tone for the game to come .
And we are off! The game starts with a Tullamore attack, but the referee spotted an offside.
Both teams are desperately hunting for possession, with David O’Shea and Keith O’Rourke hounding every opposition player on the ball.
Brilliant goalkeeping from Oisín Rigney who calmly collects the ball after a dangerously fast Moate counter attack in the 5th minute.
Jayden Daly also showing brilliant defensive determination winning the ball back outside of the opposition’s penalty box, winning the Tullamore boys a dangerous free kick from about two yards from the box, but the ball was headed away by a Moate defender.
Chance! The ball is crossed in from the right wing, it falls to Daragh Galvin at the back post, but it just wasn’t to be for the right back as he heads in wide, inches from being a goal.
Goaaaaaaaalllll!! David O’Shea puts a brilliant lobbed through ball to Evan Doran, where he cuts in onto his left foot, shoots and smashes it into the left bottom corner! What a brilliant finish of the highest quality! 1-0 to Coláiste Choilm in the 20th minute!
Penalty chance!!! Evan Doran wins the ball in the opponent’s half, gives it to Cunningham who is fouled near the edge of the box, but the referee decides that it’s a free kick! The free kick ends up hitting the wall.
Goal to Moate. They break away on the counter attack where the attacker calmly passes it over Rigney.1-1 in the 25th minute.
So close! Tullamore respond excellently with an unbelievable attempt from Daly who shoots from 30 yards out, but the ball shatters the woodwork, so close to ripping the net apart in the top left corner.
Jayden Daly rips apart the defence using his unbelievable ability to use his dribbling skills, leaving the defenders clueless.
And with that, the half comes to a close, definitely a very eventful half and hopefully more to come.
Half time: Coláiste Choilm 1-1 Moate.
Second Half
The half commences and starts much like the first, with both teams tirelessly working for the ball which conveys just how much this cup means to them.
Goal for Moate. The ball comes in from a dangerous corner to the front post, it hits off of an attacker and slips into the front post. It was an extremely unfortunate goal to concede as Rigney just didn’t have enough time to react and make the save. It’s 2-1 to Moate in the 49th minute.
Chance! Daly drives to goal, tries to put a low cross in to Doran, but the defender was there to clear the hazardous ball. Coláiste Choilm are laying on the pressure on Moate.
Goal to Moate. A defensive mixup leads to the Moate striker having a simple finish leaving Rigney with no chance. 3-1 to Moate with ten minutes remaining.
Goal! One booted Daniel Trainor crosses it in to Heffernan (with one boot fallen off) who volleyed it right into the net! Will we see a comeback!? 2-3 with five minutes remaining!
The Tullamore boys continue to put pressure on Moate, attack after attack but the chances just didn’t have an end product, concluding in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat.
Although they were defeated, the players and coaches can be very proud of themselves for their very hard work throughout all the year, and they tried their very best from the tip-off to the final whistle. This loss will also be a huge boost for their performances next year as their performances will be fueled by this devastating defeat.
Full Time: Coláiste Choilm Tullamore 2-3 Moate Community School.
Man of the Match: Keith O’Rourke after his second to none defending and attacking determination, definitely a performance to remember.
Starting XI: Oisín Rigney, Keith O’Rourke, Fionnán Connolly, Conall Minnock, Daragh Galvin, Sam Heffernan, Mark Dunne, Evan Doran, David O’Shea, Jayden Daly and Timmy Cunningham.
Substitutions: Half Time: Daniel Holton for Timmy Cunningham, Eoin Byrne for Conall Minnock. 53rd minute: Trainor for Holton.
By Seán Finlay Scanlon and Evan Curling.