In what was a mixed year for the Westmeath college sides, the emerging force that is St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge made most of the headlines. With no disrespect to the other college sides, the past year has been all about the rise and rise of St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge. Under the guidance of Westmeath senior manager Luke Dempsey, St. Joseph's established themselves as one of the leading football colleges in Leinster with a series of outstanding displays at both junior (under 16) and senior level. Prior to Christmas, they captured the North Leinster Colleges Senior 'A' League title for the first time following a thrilling victory over Moyne CS. Not to be outdone, the St. Joseph's junior team - which contained a number of seniors - also landed the North Leinster crown when they overwhelmed Westmeath rivals Marist College, Athlone in February. The senior success gave rise to hopes of St. Joseph's going all the way in Leinster Colleges Senior Championship, but a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to traditional giants St. Mel's of Longford at the semi-final stage put paid to such hopes. The North Leinster Senior League win represented a major breakthrough for a school that has made remarkable strides in recent years. The campaign, which saw St. Joseph's account for a number of big-name schools, culminated in a gritty 3-4 to 1-7 victory over Moyne CS, who had romped to All-Ireland 'B' glory earlier in the year. Rochfortbridge laid the foundations for their success in the first half when goals from Gavin Hoey and Conor Jordan gave them a 2-0 to 0-4 interval lead, despite having played against a gale force wind. A third goal from Gareth Hickey midway through the second half had St. Joseph's cruising, but a late rally from Moyne meant that the Westmeath side had just three points to spare at the final whistle. "This is a fantastic day and a wonderful success for St. Joseph's," said a delighted Luke Dempsey afterwards. "One player does not win a final, it took a marvellous team performance and each and every one of the players deserve tremendous credit. "This victory makes a mockery of the theory that 16-year-old footballers can't compete with 18 and a half-year-olds, because the young guys really showed their worth in this great victory," he added. Following an excellent semi-final victory over St. Pat's of Navan, St. Joseph's added the under 16 equivalent at St. Loman's on February 11 when they crushed Marist by 2-17 to 1-5. The sides were on level terms at the interval, 0-7 to 1-4, but Rochfortbridge turned on the style on the restart to run out comfortable winners. Senior player David Glennon produced an outstanding midfield performance for the winners, scoring five points in a man of the match display. St. Joseph's had opened up a 0-13 to 1-4 lead before another senior, Gareth Hickey, set up Kenneth Casey for the goal which ended the game as a contest. Glennon and Casey tagged on further points before Ronan Foley scored a second St. Joseph's goal in injury-time. St. Joseph's also enjoyed the longest run of the Westmeath schools in the Leinster Senior 'A' Championship, qualifying for the semi-final for the first time in their history. Following wins over St. Benildus and Gormanston in the early rounds, they overcame Marist by 1-5 to 0-5 in the quarter-final with substitute Stephen Goonery scoring the only goal late in the game. Luke Dempsey's charges went into their penultimate round tie against St. Mel's in a confident frame of mind and seemed to be coasting to victory when they led by 10 points midway through the first half. But Mel's staged a remarkable recovery to force the game into extra-time where their greater experience saw them go on to claim a 2-13 to 2-10 victory. Westmeath's other representatives in the Leinster Senior 'A' Championship - Moate Community School, Marist College and St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar - all experienced disappointing campaigns. With full forward James Coughlan in terrific form, Moate caused a surprise when they defeated an underperforming St. Mary's CBS by 1-9 to 1-6 in the first round. But their hopes of progressing beyond the quarter-final stage were ended by St. Mel's who recorded a flattering 3-11 to 0-8 win at Pearse Park on February 23. Goals from Kevin Hogan and Darragh Donnelly helped Marist College to a comfortable 2-10 to 0-7 victory over Scoil Mhuire of Clane in the opening round, but St. Joseph's had the measure of them in the quarter-final. The once mighty St. Finian's College, Mullingar made a long-overdue return to the winners' enclosure when they defeated Kells CS by 1-9 to 1-8 in an gripping North Leinster Junior 'B' final at Longwood on February 12 last. Remarkably, it was St. Finian's first Leinster title win in 20 years. Coached by Eddie Casserly, the Mullingar side had corner forward Conradh Reilly to thank after he notched the winning point in injury-time. St. Finian's had led by 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time with Robert Lynch accounting for their goal. In another Westmeath success, Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan annexed the North Leinster Colleges Senior 'C' title following a 1-10 to 1-3 victory over Ardee CS in the final at Pairc Tailteann in late January. Kilbeggan, who had accounted for Colaiste Cionn Torc, Castlepollard in an earlier round, dominated the first half exchanges to lead by 1-6 to 0-0 at the break. Adrian Carroll and Liam Corcoran had both registered points before Michael Grennan scored the only goal of the half. Ardee came more into the game on the resumption, but late points from Carroll and substitute Keith Scally copperfastened victory for the Westmeath side. The St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge team which captured the North Leinster Senior League title last December was: Stephen Gallagher; David Coyne, Shay Hannon, Stephen Bracken; Ronan Foley, Mark Cassidy, Sean Casey; Conor Jordan, Gavin Hoey; Robbie Kenny, Jamie Wilson, Dermot Faulkner; Gareth Hickey, Colin Connolly, David Glennon. Subs used: Brian Smith, AJ Murray, TJ Gonoud and Mark Conroy. The St. Joseph's team which defeated Marist, Athlone in the North Leinster Junior League final was: Thomas Byrne; Brian Cassidy, Shay Hannon, Dean Gammell; Kevin Reid, Trevor Gonoud, Darren Price; Ronan Foley, David Glennon; Colin Connolly, AJ Murray, Drew Morgan; Danny Mooney, Gareth Hickey, Kenneth Casey. Subs used: Darragh O'Connor, Niall Nolan, John McNamara, David McGuire and Jonathan Hickey. Tweet

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