All Ireland Colleges Senior 'A' semi-final - 1997


Connaught Telegraph
Mayo GAA News 17 April 1997


St Gerald's class of 97 can graduate with football honours

St Gerald's (Castlebar) 1-13---------------St Pat's (Navan) 0-15

John Melvin reports from Longford

A new name has been posted on the All Ireland Colleges noticeboard. The class of 97 from St Gerald's College, Castlebar, produced a performance at Longford, on Sunday, that must surely rank among the best that college's football has seen, to secure a place in the All Ireland Final, where they will meet Ulster champions St Patrick's, Dungannon, in Croke Park on Sunday week.

The meeting of the school's from Meath and Mayo almost produced a carbon copy of that famous All Ireland senior final last summer between these two counties, but, with one exception: the footballers of St Gerald's were not going to be caught in a photo-finish after all their hard work.

Having been reeled back after building up a nine point lead five minutes into the second half (1-11 to 0-5), it seemed that heartbreak was once again going to be the lot of a team from the West of Ireland.

But when defensive barricades had to be erected, when cool heads were called for in moments of intense pressure and near crises, when it called for calmness amongst all the confusion of a stormy finish, St Gerald's were the ones who held their nerve to richly deserve that place in the final.

The reasons for St Gerald's success are varied and numerous. And while certain sections of the team must be given due credit for their contributions at various stages, it would be misinterpreting the performance as a whole to suggest any particular department were ultimately responsible for winning the game. It was the sum of all the parts in the end which made it possible.

Each in turn played their part. When the pressure reached boiling point with ten minutes remaining, and St Pat's were pounding on the door, there were heroes to be found in a defence which was nothing short of magnificent; when scores were needed, the forward division did not disappoint in producing some superb points and a goal of genuine class; when midfield had to pull hard on the oars the St Gerald's partnership did not disappoint.

But, I suppose, it wasn't until Meath came raiding for the goal only to be denied by a splendid save from Colin Warde, that I was convinced St Gerald's would hold put. Sensing that only a goal was going to save the day, St Pat's came marauding in packs but a disciplined St Gerald's defence resisted the temptation to stick in a hand, or to let a boot stray where it shouldn't, actions that could so easily have given away the penalty which could well have stolen it for the Navan boys.

Nerve

When steadiness, courage, and above all, nerve, was needed they were to be found in abundance at the back and in particular from corner backs David Hayes and Kevin Scahill, the games two most influential defenders, but not far behind was John Feeney at centre back, Adrian Marley who snuffed out the much vaunted Navan full forward in the first half, while, when courage was needed, John Fahey and Anthony Dunne were not found wanting. And while the defence certainly saved the day in the end the contribution of the attack and an excellent midfield should not be diminished in anyway.

Thomas Earley and Jamie Fitzmaurice had played a huge role in building up that eight point lead for St Gerald's and it was no coincidence that St Pat's found an avenue back into the game when Fitzmaurice took a shot to his injured shoulder which curtailed his influence and eventually forced him out of the game.

When the stamp of class was called for St Gerald's had the players up front to deliver. Fintan McHale with that stunning goal and tremendous work in general, Colm Lyons with some superb points from frees and from play and Colm Staunton creator of the goal and a contributor of two excellent points. Kenneth Hyland also did well and while Michael Hoban was not as influential as he is capable of, he came up against a back of real quality in Paul Waters. And when the pressure came on in that second half Niall Dunne, named at number 15, but covering more ground than one of those circus tents.

All had contributed handsomely to building up an interval lead of 0-9 to 0-5. Lyons with a magnificent opening point from a free steadied St Gerald's, but they were 0-3 to 0-1 adrift after ten minutes, all the first half St Pat's scores coming from frees with the St Gerald's defence being caught for pace and fortunate not to concede a goal when Scahill got a vital touch to a pass intended for an unmarked player inside the defence.

However, a fine free from the hands from Jamie Fitzmaurice and a great point from Colm Staunton and Lyons (free) again had St Gerald's level by the 20th minute and in the last ten minutes of the half they produced their best football of the entire championship to rack up five great points. Kenneth Hyland could so easily have found the net but opted for his point, Lyons (free), a magnificent long range point from Thomas Earley, followed by McHale, Neill Dunne and Fitmaurice, with another form the hands, to leave St Pat's reeling at halftime.

All Hands on Deck

The Navan boys were in for a further shock when St Gerald's tacked on 1-2 with eleven minutes of the second half gone.

But it was a case of all hands on deck for the last quarter as St Pat's began to play the kind of football they had failed to produce in the first half, but for which they were noted.

Half backs Seamus Kenny and Ciaran Garvey kicked the kind of points that would inspire any team. Trevor Ratty was pumping in high balls to Callaghan, Travers and McManus, the three forwards who were causing al the grief in the closing stages.

It was looking ominous. Twelve minutes into the second half the Meath challenge began. Grey, Macken, Ratty, Travers and Callaghan all found the target in a productive six minute spell. St Gerald's nine point lead had been slashed to four. And there were still twelve minutes remaining.

Jamie Fitzmaurice, who struggled on with that shoulder injury, made a great solo run which ended with a point from Colm Lyons. It was a vital score as it broke the rhythm of the Navan lads but they were soon back with a good point from half back Seamus Kenny and it could have been disastrous for St Gerald's had Colin Warde not managed to somehow get his hand to Ciaran Mackens' point blank shot.

Kenny's point had the gap back to four, but lyons again produced a glorious free from the hands to extend the lead to a more secure five points. Back again came St Pat's. Travers Clipped two off two more points to bring it back to a goal with three minutes remaining. McManus made it two with a shot that could so easily have gone into the net, and it was well into injury time when McManus opted for a pointed free to leave the minimum between the sides.

But St Gerald's managed to win vital possession from the kick out, and earn a free with the last action of an enthralling game.

St Gerald's: C. Ward, K. Scahill, A. Marley, D. Hayes, J. Fahey, J. Feeney, A Dunne, T. Earley (0-1); J. Fitzmaurice (0-3); K. Hyland (0-1); M. Hoban, C. Lyons (0-4); C. Staunton (0-2); F. McHale (1-1); Dunne (0-1). Subs: F. Harte for Fitzmaurice (inj); D. Quinn for Hoban.

St Pat's: D. Coogan, D. Callaghan, C. O'Connell, G. McGuinness, S. Kenny (0-1); P. Waters, C. Grey (0-1); T. Ratty (0-1); P. Reilly, C. Carty (0-2); C. Travers (0-6); I. McManus (0-2); J. Lunney, K. Callaghan (0-1); C. Macken (0-1). Subs: McKeague for McGuinness, D. O'Brien for Lunney.

Ref: Cooney (Offally).



Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - April 1997