Saints alive!
November 30, 2007
St Oliver's CC, with a team made up of Meath and Louth players, made history in 2007 when they claimed their first-ever Leinster Vocational Schools 'A' football title. The Drogheda school went on to become the first Louth school to contest the All-Ireland 'A' VS final, but the dream was dashed therein by Cavan and Ulster champions Virginia College. Still, it was a historic season for the Ollies, who certainly did their bit to fly the flags high in '07.
St Oliver's CC rewrote the history books for the third time in 2007 when they qualified for the All-Ireland Vocational Schools 'A' final with a superb victory over Davitt College at Ballinasloe on Monday March 19. The Drogheda school had already contested Leinster senior and junior finals in the same year for the first time and then went on to claim their first senior provincial crown. Now they also held the distinction of becoming the first Louth college to qualify for a senior All-Ireland 'A' VS final.
The Community College booked their place in the national Vocational Schools decider with a superb 1-12 to 1-8 victory over Davitt College at Ballinasloe on March Bank Holiday Monday. Full forward Mark Collins sent the winners on their way with the opening point after three minutes and further scores from Collins and centre forward Daniel Martin soon had Oliver's 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.
After the Castlebar school levelled again, Oliver's moved back in front and then grabbed the game's decisive score just before the short whistle. Louth minor Ronan Kearney claimed midfield possession and initiated a move involving Peter Collins, who placed Ronan Holcroft for a smashing goal. The Ollies led by 1-8 to 0-4 at the interval and never looked back.
This result set up an unlikely Louth V Cavan All-Ireland final at Clones on Sunday April 22. It had been a long road to the national decider for both the Drogheda and Virginia schools as the competition had been a protracted affair with an unforgivable number of postponements and delays along the way. Though St Oliver's had contested junior finals in 1994 and 2001, this was their first experience in a senior Vocational Schools All-Ireland decider. Mentors Paddy Carr, John Heeney and Cathal Giblin had defied all expectations by brilliantly guiding their team through to the ultimate stage but, unfortunately, they would once more fall at the final hurdle (Ollies also lost the '94 and '01 junior finals).
Holders Virginia - boasting ten of the previous year's team and six Cavan minors - had showed their class when they defeated a highly-rated St Brogan's of Bandon (Cork) team at the semi-final stage, prevailing by 1-16 to 3-8 after extra time. However, St Oliver's CC had themselves demonstrated similar mettle along the way as they too required extra time before winning both their Leinster first-round outing against Ashbourne CC and the provincial final.
St Oliver's journey to the All-Ireland final commenced in earnest when they defeated St Mary's to win the Lennon Cup for only the second time in their 25-year history. They pipped Castleknock in the Leinster semi-final a week later and the momentum carried the Drogheda school past Tullow CS and Davitt College, Castlebar into the All-Ireland final. There had been plenty of uncertainty in the run-up to the final due to postponements, but the lads kept training - working hard over Easter - and went into the decider in great shape. Unfortunately, Virginia proved to be a cut above as they romped to an emphatic 4-10 to 2-5 win.
March 10th was a much happier day for St Oliver's CC as full forward Mark Collins from Bellewstown inspired them to a 1-9 to 0-11 victory over Tullow CS, Carlow in the Leinster final at O'Connor Park in Tullamore. Collins bagged 1-7 of the winning tally as the Drogheda outfit battled to their first Leinster VS senior 'A' title. Twelve years after they had last contested a senior final, St Oliver's had become the first college from County Louth to win the championship.
The platform for victory was provided by the midfield pairing of Craig Lynch and Louth minor Ronan Kearney. Collins opened the scoring when he won and converted a free and the Meath minor converted another free before Tullow came back to level. Collins ('45') and Daniel Martin - from distance - restored the winners' two-point cushion and the Drogheda side made full use of wind assistance to maintain their double-scores advantage at the interval - 0-6 to 0-4. Their other two scores of the first half arrived courtesy of Collins and a lovely Ronan Holdcroft finish from an awkward angle.
Though Collins nicked the first score of the second half, a Tullow fightback was always on the cards. They were physically bigger and had five intercounty minors - as well as wind advantage for the next half hour. Oliver's were without regular full back Martin Sherlock (thumb) and their defence was now asked to work overtime in the face of some frantic Tullow attacking. The Carlow boys has levelled by the 53rd minute, 0-8 apiece. There were no more scores in normal time.
A minute into extra time, the pendulum swung decisively in favour of the team in red and black. Collins converted a penalty after he had been dragged down. To compound Tullow's woes, the offending player was sent off with a second yellow card. When substitute Aaron Comerford was pulled down, Collins again kept his cool to convert a 21-metre free: 1-9 to 0-8 at the turnaround.
The losers came out all guns blazing in the last period and they closed the gap to the minimum with three unanswered points. But St Oliver's defence was outstanding: Graham Murray was impervious at full back and goalkeeper Ian Farrell made a fantastic save as the Drogheda side held out to make history. Captain Craig Brodigan had the honour of lifting the cup on behalf of his team-mates, heroes one and all.
St Oliver's CC - 2007 Leinster Vocational Schools senior 'A' champions: Ian Farrell; Craig Brodigan, Graham Murray, Stephen Murphy; Daniel White, Joey Martin, Stuart Barnett; Ronan Kearney, Craig Lynch; Peter Collins, Daniel Martin (0-1), Keith Farnan; Brendan Caffrey, Mark Collins (1-7), Ronan Holdcroft (0-1). Subs: A Comerford, B McDonnell, B Campbell, R Holdcroft. Rest of squad: J Flaherty, N Kirwan, P Clarke, A Everard, A Mooney, W Cudden, M Sherlock
Team and scorers from the All-Ireland final: A Everard; G Murray, B Campbell, C Brodigan; D Whyte, J Martin, S Barnett; R Kearney, C Lynch (0-1); P Collins, D Martin (0-1), K Farnan; B Caffrey, M Collins (0-3), R Holdcroft (0-2). Subs: A Comerford, B McDonnell, J Flaherty, P Clarke, S Murphy
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