In what was disappointing year for local schools in football, the combined Westmeath Schools hurling team made history by winning their way through to the Leinster Colleges senior 'A' championship quarter-final.

The highlight of the colleges' year was arguably the performances of the combined Westmeath Schools hurling team who made history by reaching the Leinster Colleges senior 'A' championship quarter-final.
In a year when the county's five representatives in the Leinster Colleges senior football 'A' championship failed to make an impact, it was refreshing to see a hurling team from the county give an excellent account of themselves at the highest level. Their 2-14 to 0-15 first round victory over Dublin South in Ballyboden was the biggest shot in the arm Westmeath hurling has received in a long time and reflects the tremendous work that is being at underage level in the county.
Two goals from Lough Lene Gaels' Philip Reilly inspired the Westmeath Schools to a famous extra-time win. Dublin South led by 1-7 to 0-7 at the interval, but with Castletown-Geoghegan starlet Aonghus Clarke in sparking scoring form (he finished with a personal tally of 0-10), the midlanders battled back in the second half to force extra-time on a 0-11 to 1-8 scoreline.
Dublin South again took control in the first period of extra-time when Aodhan Clabby, Niall Ryan and Ben Quinn hit four unanswered points, but the visitors dominated the second period with Reilly's second major proving decisive.
Sadly, that was as good as it got for the combined schools who were brought crashing back down to earth with a bang by Kilkenny CBS in the Leinster quarter-final. The game was a bridge too far for the Lake County lads who crashed to a 0-8 to 4-15 defeat and now realise what's required if they want to get to the very top. They were well contention at half-time when trailing by 0-6 to 1-10, but the Cats upped the ante after the restart to run out easy winners.
A number of the Westmeath Schools side also figured for St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar in their Leinster Colleges senior hurling 'B' championship campaign which ended with a heartbreaking 2-14 to 2-15 semi-final loss to Cistercian College, Roscrea after extra-time in Drumcullen, Co. Offaly.
As ever, hopes were high of a Westmeath success in the Leinster Colleges senior football 'A' championship, which reverted to a straight knockout format this year. But only Moate Community School survived the first two rounds to reach the quarter-final where they were they lost to champions-elect St. Pat's of Navan by 0-9 to 2-11.
Jointly managed by Gary Flanagan and Peter Tormey, Moate were determined to make amends for their heartbreaking semi-final loss to St. Mary's, Edenderry last year. Parading just three of that side (Alan Stone, Brian Finnerty and Darren Scanlon), they opened their campaign with a hard-earned 0-12 to 0-8 victory over Portmarnock Community School. The red and blacks dominated the first half to lead by 0-9 to 0-2 at the break, but they were relieved to hear the final whistle after letting their Dublin opponents back into it in the second half.
With midfielders Alan Stone and David Minnock to the fore, Moate turned in a much-improved performance to beat Scoil Dara, Kilcock by 1-15 to 0-11 in the second round at Hogan Park. The South Westmeath side led by 0-13 to 0-4 at half-time and when corner forward Darren Scanlon swooped for the game's only goal eight minutes into the second half, the game was ended as a contest.
Last year, Moate defeated St. Pat's in an extra-time thriller, but the Navan boys exacted sweet revenge when they ran out 2-11 to 0-9 winners at Pairc Tailteann. The scoreline flattered Colm O'Rourke's charges who had been clinging onto a three-point lead when a freak goal from a sideline ball with seven minutes remaining ended hopes of a Westmeath success in this year's championship. Moate weren't helped either by the dismissal of Ballymore man Brian Finnerty on a straight red card early in the second half.
St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar received a major boost before the championship got underway when they edged out local rivals St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge by 2-5 to 2-4 to lift the North Leinster Colleges 'A' league title in December. As it was their first such success in 21 years, Frank Dillon's charges were expected to make a strong bid for championship honours. It wasn't to be, however, as an unfortunate own goal by Jason O'Toole saw them succumb to Dundalk Colleges in the second round by 1-6 to 1-8.
There was little to separate the sides at any stage with Niall Hearty's 35-metre free on the stroke of half-time giving the home team a 0-5 to 0-3 interval lead.
The Mullingar boys restarted impressively and a Seanie Daly goal put them two points clear. Four minutes later, though, O'Toole deflected the ball into his own net to put Dundalk back in front. The Louth side were three points up in stoppage-time when Daly's last-gasp effort for an equalising goal flew over the bar to leave two points in it at the end.
Despite their league final loss, St. Joseph's also had high hopes of progressing in the championship, having staged a memorable comeback to oust Navan in the semi-final. But their interest didn't extend beyond the first round following a 1-3 to 0-10 defeat to Ardscoil na Trionoide of Athy.
Beaten semi-finalists in 2009, Rochfortbridge were level on 1-3 to 0-6 after 46 minutes, but with last year's Kildare minor captain Cian Reynolds to the fore, Athy rattled off the last four points to progress.
2008 Leinster champions Athlone Community College made an early exit when they lost by 1-9 to 3-14 to Scoil Dara, Kilcock who, of course, were subsequently beaten by Moate Community School. Neighbouring Marist College, meanwhile, were knocked out by 2009 winners St. Mary's, Edenderry on a 0-9 to 0-10 scoreline after missing a penalty in the early stages. County under 21 Callum McCormack hit 0-6 for the Athlone side, but it wasn't enough to save them from making an early exit as well.
Once-mighty St. Finian's College, Mullingar made a tame exit from the Leinster Colleges senior football 'B' championship, losing to Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore by 0-10 to 4-14. Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan reached the semi-finals of the 'C' championship where they lost to Cross & Passion, Kilcullen by 2-4 to 3-11. They had earlier claimed the North Leinster crown.
Meanwhile, St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge gained some consolation for their disappointing football campaign when they annexed the North Leinster Colleges 'C' hurling championship following a 1-12 to 0-9 victory over Offaly outfit Killina Presentation. Raharney's Robbie Greville top-scored with 1-5, 1-4 of which came from play. And Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar were crowned North Leinster Junior 'A' football champions in March following a 1-15 to 3-7 victory over St. Pat's, Navan at Longwood.

The combined Westmeath Schools team which lost the Leinster Colleges SH 'A' championship quarter-final to Kilkenny CBS was: Cathal Scally; Daniel Kelleher, Thomas Doyle, David Fennell; Cormac Boyle, Aaron Craig, Paddy Laide; Shane Donoher, Paul Fennell; Joey Boyle, Glen Flynn, Aonghus Clarke; Philip Reilly, David Higgins, Anthony Price. Subs used: Shane Fagan, Davy Gavin, Dean McDermott, Neal Kirby and Enda Kincaid.

The St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar team which captured the North Leinster Colleges SF 'A' league title was: Niall O'Doherty; Cathal Burke, Stephen Gilmore, Paul Maxwell; Willie McGrath, Jason O'Toole, Adam Price; Davy Gavin, Conor Lyons; David Lynch, Gary Keena, Aonghus Clarke; Neal Kirby, Dean McNicholas, Seanie Daly. Sub used: Mark Coyne.

St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge's North Leinster Colleges 'C' hurling championship winning line-up was: Stephen Lynam; Dermot Judge, Mark Glennon, Killian Duggan; Kieran Gill, Gerard Foley, Gary Greville; Sean Deegan, Jason Cully; Cormac Boyle, Stephen Quinn, Joseph Boyle; Jamie Gonoud, Adam Flanagan, Robbie Greville. Sub used: Mark Giles. Tweet

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