ONE OF the top GAA nurseries in the country, Carmelite College, Moate, Co Westmeath, closed its doors for the last time at the beginning of the summer holidays and will not reopen.

Hundreds of footballers and hurlers learned the games in the college and some have become top players, known throughout the country.

The man who is rightly given the most credit for Moate's great record is Father Michael Cremin who brought a new and vibrant approach to things like teamwork, skills, coaching and fitness. Moate's big breakthrough came in 1975 when they won the Leinster colleges title and went on to contest the All Ireland final.

They went one better the following year when they won the All Ireland. They were runners up again in 1977, won the Leinster title in 1978 and were All Ireland champions in 1980 and 1981.

When they won the All Ireland title in 1976 by beating another great football nursery, St Jarlath's from Tuam, 12,000 attended the final in Hyde Park, Roscommon - an extraordinary attendance for a college match.

Among the players who wore the college colours are John Maughan, the Mayo player who later managed Clare and is now in charge of his native Mayo. Two of the Offaly players who won All Ireland medals by halting Kerry's "five in a row" march in 1982, Aidan O'Halloran and Vincent Henry also played for Moate as did Danny Owens who won All Ireland hurling medals with Offaly in the 1980s. Val Daly who won an All Star with Galway and played for Ireland in the International Rules series against Australia is another who played for Moate.

To mark the college's sporting achievements a special match has been arranged for Moate on Saturday, September 28th when all the above are expected to line out. A team selected from the teams of 1975, 76 and 77 will play a 1980 and 81 selection.

. They came in their thousands yesterday evening to see the All Ireland hurling champions, Wexford, draw 4-16 to 3-19 against the Rest of Ireland in the annual GOAL challenge.