Sport

Athlone driven by Coffey

Leinster Colleges' Senior A Football Championship quarter-final/Athlone 1-14 Colaiste Eoin 1-9: Ian Coffey gave a masterclass…

Fri Feb 03 2006 - 00:00

Leinster Colleges' Senior A Football Championship quarter-final/Athlone 1-14 Colaiste Eoin 1-9: Ian Coffey gave a masterclass as Athlone Community College clinched victory in yesterday's quarter-final in Johnstown. The corner forward kicked 1-8.

That haul included the all- important first-half goal which helped turn the game, as he pounced on a defensive error after 24 minutes.

Coffey also scored all four first-half points as Athlone led by 1-4 to 0-6 at the break.

Coláiste Eoin could consider themselves unfortunate to be behind, as they had enjoyed plenty of possession.

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Seán Ó Seanáin scored three frees for the Dublin side, and there was one apiece for Ciarán Ó hEigeartaigh, Jack Ó Giollagáin and Lúc Ceitinn before half-time.

But Athlone got the upper hand in the second half.

Indeed, the game might have been over as a contest soon after the resumption, but Coffey was denied two further goals.

The sides were level at the three-quarter stage, as points from Coffey and John Connellan had been cancelled out by Ó Seanáin and Ceitinn.

Then Athlone cut loose and rattled off six points in a row (three from Connellan, three from Coffey) to kill the game off.

Coláiste Eoin countered with a goal two minutes from time, Ronán MacSuibhne sticking the ball in the net after a high ball from Ó Seanáin.

But the midlanders finished strongly, and points from Donal Shine (son of former Roscommon manager Donie) and substitute Cathal McHugh wrapped up victory.

For a vocational school playing in the colleges competition for the first time this season, 2006 just keeps getting better.

ATHLONE CC: D Moore; J Coyle, Steven Lawless, A Connaughton; Simon Lawless, P Domican, P Mullen; C Broughall, K Waldron; R Killian, J Connellan (0-4, two frees), C Dunning; I Coffey (1-8, four frees), D Shine (0-1), A Gaughan. Subs: C McHugh (0-1) for C Dunning (26 mins); J Bonner for P Mullen (40 mins), N Lennon for R Killian (57 mins).

COLÁISTE EOIN: D MacBriain; E Breathnach, S Ó Giolláin, L Teimhneáin; M Ó Cochláin, R Ó Céadaigh, A Ó hOibicín; C Gormlaí, P MacGloinn; L Ceitinn (0-2, frees), S Ó Seanáin (0-5, three frees), C Ó hEigeartaigh (0-1); P Clintúin, R MacSuibhne (1-0), J Ó Giollagáin (0-1). Sub: F Ó Maolmhichíl for Breathnach (53 mins).

Referee: P O'Reilly (Longford).