Coach Collins hails character of Claremorris students

A busy weekend for Eoghan Collins got off to the best possible start in his native Ballyhaunis on Saturday lunchtime. Selected at right half-back on the Mayo team that would play its first game of this year’s Allianz Hurling League on Sunday, first he had to take charge of the senior football team of St Colman’s College who were bidding to win only their seventh Connacht ‘A’ title.

Joint manager of the team along with Enda Campbell, Collins was delighted at how the Claremorris team had emerged with a three points win.

“It was a great game and it was almost a game of two halves. Summerhill started the game really well but we hit them on the counterattack with our two goals. However, our lead wasn’t long getting wiped out in the second-half and we just had to dig in. We didn’t play anywhere near to our potential during the second half, however, our character probably brought us over the line in the end.” 

St Colman’s had enjoyed a six points cushion at the break and Eoghan Collins was hoping for more of the same from the South Mayo side during the second-half. But the challengers from Sligo made the Red and White work every inch for their win.

“I said to them at half-time to produce more of the same, and I was hoping for a bit more from our players during the first 15 minutes of the second-half, compared to the first-half, and to try and build a bit of a lead between the sides,” Eoghan Collins admitted.

“In fairness, Summerhill are a good team and they defeated us by seven points in the group stages so we knew what to expect. They were never going to lie down and they came back into the game really strong. We were hanging on for the victory in the end but thankfully we got there.” 

The battling qualities of St Colman’s were there for all to see and their excellent blocks captivated those in attendance.

“We have said that we are a tightknit team and the camaraderie in this group is top class. Every breaking ball and every bit of possession today was a battle, and they have to go out and put the effort in over the course of the game,” said Eoghan Collins, a dual player who spent several years playing senior football for Clare, the birth county of his father.

“It is definitely one of my top achievements on the sideline and you can enjoy days when you’re playing as well as enjoying days coaching. Hopefully my playing days aren’t over, as I have to go to Sligo tomorrow for a league match, and it is certainly a busy weekend. [But] it is not about me or Mr Campbell, it is about the players and they are the ones who won it. We try and put them in the best position as we can, and to a man they performed well today and fair play to the players.” 

The St Colman’s management team will sit down during the week and plot their All-Ireland semi-final plan.

“We will sit down next week and do some homework on the opposition – I think they are from Leinster. We will try and get out match-ups right, and then after that just focus on our own game plan,” explained Collins.

The Leinster final was also played on Saturday and saw Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar bridge a 42-year gap to win just their second provincial ‘A’ title with a three-point victory over first-time finalists Ardscoil na Trionóide from Athy. The game went to extra-time before Coláiste Mhuire won by 3-10 to 1-13.

But with players in their ranks of the calibre of Darragh Beirne, St Colman’s can enter the All-Ireland Series with a confidence that they will acquit themselves very well. The full-forward and joint captain struck 1-5 in his side’s win against Summerhill College and said that it was a dream come true to win a Connacht title.

“It is almost like everything that we have dreamed of and it is great to have won a provincial title in what is our final year at St Colman’s. We couldn’t have asked any more from the players or management and it is great to see that our hard work has paid off in the end,” beamed Beirne.