Top Oil Leinster Colleges Senior Football ‘A’ Final
Marist Athlone v Naas CBS at Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday at 2 pm
Marist College Athlone, with a team drawn from Westmeath and Roscommon will attempt to land the Leinster Colleges senior title for the first time in their history on Saturday. The Athlone school were beaten in the finals of 2014 and 2016 and in two other finals over the years but hopes are high that the Eoin Jordan managed team can land the title after a series of excellent displays in the competition so far.
Naas CBS are newcomers to this grade this year and indeed Kildare schools have a poor record in this competition over the years. An impressive win against the Offaly schools saw Marist into this decider. Ciaran Sugrue, Tom O’Carroll, Shane Cunnane and Eoghan Derwin are some of the better known St. Brigid’s players who have represented Roscommon at U-16 and U-17 level over the past two years.
Westmeath midfielder Kieran Colclough weighed in with an impressive 1-6 in the semi-final and with Sean Dowd also impressive, Marist look to have a side well capable of bringing back the title.
Naas were the comfortable winners against Colaiste Eoin in the semi-final (2-8 to 0-6) and Luke Griffin is their main attacking threat. He scored 1-4 in the semi-final from play and frees while Darragh Kirwan is also one to watch in attack.
Predictions at colleges level are notoriously difficult to make and the oldest GAA cliché in the book ‘on the day’ certainly applies. Hopefully it is the turn of Marist to taste success.
Prediction: Marist Athlone
