Roscommon legend Gerry O'Malley made the point in the programme for yesterday's Leinster senior school's football final in Portlaoise that his most abiding memory of Marist College, Athlone, when a pupil there was the reputation the college had for maths and science.
Some things never change, but the science of accumulating winning scores on the football pitch on the big occasion is something that the Westmeath college has still to master and, in this instance, their shortcomings were very much to the delight of New Ross rivals Good Counsel.
Good Counsel, captained by the inspiring Barry Byrne, lifted the title for the third time this decade. It was a splendid team performance that enabled them to carry the day, but they got more than a little help from a quite wasteful Marist side in what was for them a best-forgotten wind-assisted second half.
Sean O'Donoghue, the Marist captain, won the toss and opted to play against the wind, a gamble which appeared to be paying off with his side leading by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time. It was a nip and tuck in the first half with the central Good Counsel players, Eric Bradley, Edward Galvin, Keith Madigan and Barry Byrne, getting through a lot of inspiring work without making any appreciable advances on the scoreboard.
Likewise, the solid first-half performances for Marist, chiefly from John Keane, Kenny Noonan, John Brennan, Gordon Duffy and O'Donoghue, consistently augured well for the underdogs' chances. Marist finished the half on a big note with three rapid pointed frees from Alan Claffey (two) and O'Donoghue to establish a twopoints interval lead against the odds. Marist now looked capable of finishing off the job with wind advantage and John Brennan looking so convincing in the middle, but the signs suddenly became ominous when O'Donoghue lost his touch to kick three successive wides. Adding to Marist concern at this stage was the obvious ability of Good Counsel to play the ball tight and six players handled before Philip Gleeson landed the first score of the second half, a point to reduce the deficit to the minimum.
Corner forward Gleeson was to prove a key figure by the 45th minute when he had the ball in the Marist net for the only goal of the match. The application was incisive as Barry Byrne set up Gleeson with the scoring pass and Eoin Farrell could do little about a low well-placed shot into the far corner of the net.
Evidence of the pressure that this score put on the Marist became immediately clear with full back Justin McAteer finally being told to move out to midfield where his opposite number Michael Phelan had spent most of the time to good effect.
Marist made an honest bid to get back and could even have snatched another chance but nine wides, against five for their opponents, spoiled their bid. Marist substitute Brendan Hynes earned forgiveness for some faulty handling by scoring a point and sending over a good cross, but Colm Ruane's good drive was somehow blocked and cleared in the last minute.
Good Counsel: D Kehoe; C Hyland, W Delaney, R Mageean; J Finn, K Madigan, N Murphy; E Bradley (0-1), E Galavan (0-1); P Doyle (0-1), B Byrne (0-1) T Ely, S Cullen, M Phelan (0-2), P Gleeson (1-1). Subs: K Stafford for Ely (45 mins); D Hayden for Gleeson (56 mins).
Marist College: E Farrell; M Rohan, J McAteer, C Donoghue; P Rattigan, J Keane, K Noonan; J Brennan, G Duffy; M Rigney (0-1), S O'Donoghue (0-4, three frees), A Claffey (0- 2 frees); D Clifford, C Ruane, B Carr. Subs: B Hynes (0-1) for Carr (46 mins); P J Ward for Clifford (56 mins).
Referee: S McCormack (Meath)
Three well-taken second-half points from centre forward Shane MacShea inspired De La Salle, Ballyshannon, to a 0-6 to 0-3 victory in the McLarnon Cup for Ulster schools at Omagh. But they had to depend on a late penalty miss by Gerard O'Boyle of St Louis', Ballymena, whose poor kick was easily saved by Karol O'Brien.
Scorers: dE La Salle, Ballyshannon - S MacShea (0-3), J Travers, M Lawless, A Boyle (0-1) each. St Louis', Ballymena - G O'Boyle, A Savage, M McClements (0-1 each).
