LEINSTER SF ‘A’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Aidan’s fight on to the very end
Daire Walsh
THEY remained in contention until the bitter end, but St Aidan’s CBS eventually lost out to Marist College in last Saturday’s Leinster Schools Senior Football ‘A’ Championship quarter-final at Mullingar.
The Collins Avenue side had booked their place in the last-eight with impressive group stage wins against Patrician Newbridge and St Mel’s College, Longford. Marist had also emerged from their three-team section with flying colours and opened up an early cushion in the home of St Loman’s.
CHALLENGE
A Lee Gannon goal subsequently brought Aidan’s challenge to life, and though Kieran Colclough raised a green flag for the Athlone school, the sides were tied at 1-5 apiece during the interval.
A semi-final place was well within the reach of Aidan’s when the play resumed, and Sean Lowry was keeping the opposition defence on their toes.
John Foley also added two points from the bench, but with Colclough, Ciaran Sugrue and Josh Beaumont all finding their range, Marist marched towards the penultimate round on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-8.
There is still one Dublin team remaining in this provincial championship, and after a couple of delays to their quarter-final clash, Colaiste Eoin will finally face reigning champions St Peter’s, Wexford in Gorey tomorrow afternoon.