Rampant Coláiste Mhuire reach another final
Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar 8-20, Wexford CBS 3-8
As the saying goes, you need to make hay while the sun shines, and Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar were true to this in the sunny conditions on Thursday last at Athy GAA Grounds. Although underfoot conditions left a bit to be desired, the Mullingar men made great use of the warm weather which allowed for fast hurling to be played and were far too strong for a gallant Wexford CBS side.
The young men in green and white were ravenous from start to finish and the result never looked in doubt from the early stages.
Early scores from the impressive Conor Williams and Aidan Doyle gave Coláiste Mhuire a two points to no score lead after four minutes. Some great team work resulted in a first major for full forward Shane Murray. The young Lough Lene Gaels forward finishing with a goal after some great work by team captain Aidan Doyle.
Doyle got his first point of the afternoon soon after and this was followed up by points from Stephen McWade and Williams again.
Zak Bates added his first score of the day which was followed by another goal, this time Conor Williams finishing to the net after some expert play by MJ Long.
Wexford CBS found it difficult to break down the Coláiste Mhuire defence and registered their first score from a '65’ in the twelfth minute and this was followed by two more scores from play from their very dangerous corner forward.
Williams and McWade registered two more majors by the twenty fifth minute along with a great solo score by Aidan Doyle, but Wexford CBS responded well and registered the next three points.
A great save by goalkeeper Connor Cassidy along with some last ditch defending by Calum McHugh, Tomás Brennan and MJ Long denied Wexford CBS three goalscoring opportunities. The defence showing great resilience to not concede a goal before half time. Doyle and Williams (1 free, 1 from play) tacked on three more points. Williams completed the scoring with a pointed free to leave the half-time score Coláiste Mhuire 4-11, Wexford CBS 0-6.
Wexford CBS made an impressive start to the second half and had three goals registered by the 40th minute, two from play and one superb effort from a 21m free. The sloppiness in the Mullingar defence becoming a slight concern for coaches Micheál Lawler and Ciarán Farrell.
Coláiste Mhuire managed to keep the score board ticking over with three points from Williams (2 frees) as well as his third goal of the day, a rocket of a shot from the 21m line. McWade followed this up with his second goal of the day, while Cian Matthews finally got a deserved point after trojan work all day.
The score of the game came in the 50th minute. Wexford CBS seemed to be in the ascendancy but some tenacious defending by MJ Long, McHugh, Brennan, Ciarán Casserly and Rhys Brady ended up with a turn over and the ball being delivered quickly to Murray, who then passed to Bates and the young Crookedwood player made no mistake from five metres.
What was most impressive from this score was the Mullingar men's resilience and unwaivering determination to turnover the sliotar even though the end result was beyond doubt at this stage.
Wexford CBS managed two more points before the finish. More scores from Williams (0-5), Murray (goal), Matthews and Ryan McNamee ensured that these young players from Mullingar finished the strongest.
The most impressive aspect of the Coláiste Mhuire display was their appetite to work hard for each other, play one touch hurling and move the ball quickly. The future looks bright for the school moving forward. They now await Coláiste Eoin or St Benildus of Dublin who play tomorrow (Wednesday, May 15) in the other semi-final.