By Leon Hayden
Finals are always cagey affairs and this proved to be the case when Coláiste Choilm took on ASCN Clara in the U19 West Leinster final. There was a lot at stake here as ASCN were the holders of the competition and a place in the Leinster Quarter Finals was up for grabs.
The match took place at Moate Astroturf, under dry and perfect conditions for a great game of football.
Coláiste Choilm got off to a slow start, and Clara quickly capitalized on this. Just three minutes in, a superb near-post save by William Cronly was followed by an excellent cross from Clara to an unmarked player at the back post, who made no mistake in putting them ahead.
Clara doubled there advantage just 2 minutes later as a poorly headed clearance led to a well executed volley. Coláiste Choilm now faced a steep uphill battle.
This set the tone for the opening 15 minutes as Clara continued to pulverise Coláiste Choilm in the opening quarter but luckily a fine tackle by Jack Murphy halted a dangerous attack.
“The Brothers” best chance of the opening quarter came from a close range Mark Holton free-kick that was deflected away by the goalkeeper.Fortunately, Coláiste Choilm gradually grew into the half, with senior players like Mark Holton and Jack Maher stepping up to lead their side.
Coláiste Choilm started threatening Clara more frequently as Sebi Holota’s shot was swept off the goal-line.
Their reward finally came when Mark Holton delivered an exceptional cross to Jack Maher, who executed a sublime finish. Throughout the half, Holton consistently delivered excellent crosses, while both Mahers proved to be a persistent thorn in Clara’s side, relentlessly charging forward and disrupting their midfield play.
Coláiste Choilm kept pressing on both the offensive and defensive fronts as Igor Daly continuously marshaled Clara's primary forward.
Colaiste Choilm's momentum came to an abrupt halt when a long-range shot from Clara crept into the bottom right corner just 3 minutes before halftime. Clara nearly doubled their lead again , but Patrick Hughes cut short a promising attack.
The referee signalled for halftime with Coláiste Choilm trailing 3-1. The scoreline belied their valiant efforts and the lion’s share of possession they maintained throughout the half. Colaiste Choilm showcased the more attractive football but they were ultimately just punished for their sluggish start.
At halftime, substitutions saw Shane Horkan joining the forward line, Alex Byrne bolstering the midfield, and Cillian Twomey stepping into goal following an injury. Additionally, the formation was shifted from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 to encourage a more attacking approach.
In the second half, Coláiste Choilm kicked off with much greater speed, and the manager's changes were proved right as the team generated an impressive number of attacking opportunities. Unfortunately, Colaiste Choilm struggled to break down Clara's defense, which held firm every time it was tested.
Clara continued to launch swift counterattacks, with Cillian Twomey reacting sharply to parry away a powerful header from a long-range cross.
Coláiste Choilm's relentless attacking approach diminished when Clara netted their fourth goal with a composed close-range finish following a well-delivered pass from the end-line.
This didn’t stop Coláiste Choilm from pushing forward, but their hopes were ultimately crushed when Clara struck again on the counter, sealing the game with a calmly executed one-on-one finish. Trailing 5-1 with just 11 minutes remaining, Coláiste Choilm's hopes began to fade.
Alex Byrne managed to salvage some respect on the scoreboard with a long range rocket assited by Shane Horkan.
The referee's final whistle signaled Clara's triumph, capping off a frustrating day for Coláiste Choilm as they produced some fine football as they held the ball well and created more shots than their opponents. Unfortunately, the scoreline didn’t reflect their efforts, as Colaiste Choilm had to work hard for their goals, while Clara benefitted from their opponents' errors.
Final Score: Coláiste Choilm 2-5 ASCN Clara
ASCN Clara 3’
ASCN Clara 5’
Jack Maher 26’
ASCN Clara 41’
ASCN Clara 74’
ASCN Clara 79’
Alex Byrne 88’
Starting Team: William Cronly; Patrick Hughes,Igor Daly,Jack Murphy(C),Arron Tuohy;Jack Maher,Louis Aubin,Danny Maher,Sebi Holota;Sam Spollen,Mark Holton
Subs Used: Shane Horkan, Alex Byrne, Cillian Twomey, Jack Keegan, Ger Keating, Cian Flood, Darragh Curling
Man Of The Match: Jack Maher
Maher showcased his exceptional footballing ability by maintaining constant pressure throughout the match and rising to the occasion whenever needed.