St Jarlath's College qualified for the 2011 Hogan Cup final on Saturday when defeating Coláiste Chríost Rí (Cork ) by 1-14 to 0-14 in a clash of all that is good in Gaelic football.
It was the best display of Gaelic football by two sides this scribe has seen in the past few months at any age level.
It was end-to-end stuff for the full 60 minutes and some of the scores by both sets of forwards were really superb. The accolade for the most incredible points scored goes to Kilkerrin/Clonberne wunderkid Shane Walsh who scored six points. Two of his efforts were tremendous shots from distance and he was the obvious man-of-the-match for most people in attendance.
Team captain Ian Burke ran him a close second with three crucial scores and some superb leadership in a frenetic second half that saw the north Galway lads under immense pressure by the tall and rangy Cork outfit. Had the Tuam side conceded a goal at any stage in that second half when they had struggled to secure any primary possession around the middle third, it is highly unlikely they would be making the trip to Croke Park on Saturday week to take on St Colman’s Newry in the final.
That they survived and progressed to the final has much to do with a terrific defensive display by Adrian Nolan at centre-back and when reassigned to full-back. He received concrete assistance throughout from Conor Cunningham, Daniel Collins, Paul Varley and top young goal-keeper James Healy.
Joe Burke’s charges got off to a great start and kicked five points in the opening nine minutes. Shane Walsh (2 ), Gearoid Armstrong, Adrian Varley, and Adrian Nolan all raised the white flag.
The winning of the game was the 1-02 that SJC hit just before half time. After Liam Silke and Walsh pointed, Conor McNamara ended a sweeping move with a superbly-taken goal. Those scores were decisive and saw the blues going in at half time, six to the good, 1-8 to 0-5.
They needed that lead as they fought a rear-guard action for the entire second half and hit their scores on the break.
Team manager Joe Burke was delighted with his team’s performance.
“We worked really hard for the entire game and everyone on the panel took a lot of satisfaction from the win. It could have gone either way near the end, but our lads stayed composed and deserved their victory. We had terrific support and that can make a difference in a tight game
“We know that we will have to improve in some aspects of our play if we are to win the final. St Colman’s are a very fine side. They won last year’s title easily and have a few lads from that squad, but there is a plenty of talent and belief in our team.
“Finals are there to be won and we will be giving it our absolute best shot to do just that.”
St Jarlath's: J Healy; C Mulryan, C Cunningham, D Collins; P Glynn, A Nolan, P Varley; G Armstrong, L Silke; S Walsh, A Varley, C McNamara; S Silke, I Burke, M McWalters. Subs: C Langan for McNamara (54 ), M Farragher for Glynn (57 ), C Treacy for Mulryan (60 ).
