St Augustines & Scoil Mhuire to meet in All-Ireland Football Final

When it comes to the G.A.A. in Waterford in recent weeks you could well be forgiven for thinking that we are only engaged in hurling activities at this moment in time.

This Saturday however promises to be a big one for Football within the county as Saint Augustine’s College from Abbeyside take on Scoil Mhuire from Strokestown in Co Roscommon at Newbridge in Co Kildare with the game having a 2pm throw in.

Saint Augustine’s College have a rich history when it comes to football and are by and large our most successful college side when it comes to football.

They won their first major piece of silverware in the mid 1950’s when the Frewan Cup (u16) was won, and in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s successive Munster ‘A’ finals were reached and as the last century came to an end and the present one began the college won successive Munster ‘B’ Finals with a number of the players involved in these successes going on to win Munster under 21 Football medals with Waterford in 2003. In 2004 Saint Augustine’s once more won the Munster ‘B’ title, but to date All-Ireland glory has eluted the college.

The Strokestown college side will prove stiff opposition for Saint Augustine’s in the final. The ‘Friary’ lads have faced a number of tough sides to date, but the side from the ‘Rossies’ could well prove to be the most difficult.

In the Connacht Final played recently they had a 1-13 to 0-8 win over Gortnor Abbey from Crossmolina which had sections of the media in the Western Provence questioning if they should have played in a higher grade of competition.

They have what will be a very strong team with some players of some considerable quality filling key positions.

Against Saint Joseph’s Donoughmore in the All-Ireland semi final recently at Brewster Park they once more showed their strength winning on a 2-12 to 1-3 scoreline.

Tom Corcoran and Sean Mullooly have been very dominant for them in the middle of the field up to now. David Neary is outstanding in recent games playing at Centre Back while Tadhg O’Rourke has shown playing at full forward that he knows where the posts are and what to do with the ball while the same could well be said of David Carlton at centre forward.

The Connacht Champions could also prove to have strength in dept. In the Connacht final Diarmuid McGann hit three points for his side but did not play in the All-Ireland Semi Final. For that game Martin Conway took his place and he scored four points before he was replaced.

Saint Augustine’s like Scoil Mhuire have plenty of ability within their side. A number of their players have inter county experience at underage level while a number have played Senior Football for their club in what is a very competitive County Senior Football Championship which is something that should stand to them.

In the Munster Championship they have racked up some impressive wins. Colaisti an Piarsaigh and Rathmore were beaten to reach the final in which they beat Saint Michael’s from Listowel. This win is one that will have instilled much confidence into the team as any team that beats a Kerry Team at any level in football know they have something going for them.

In the All-Ireland Quarter Final another very good win was recorded over Kilmihill from Clare before they beat a fancied Ardee side in the All-Ireland semi final last time out at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow.

Saint Augustine’s are unlikely to show many changes to the team which they have used for much of the campaign till now.

This should mean that Kevin Dwane should continue between the posts, while Tom Tobin, Brian Looby and Jack Mullaney should form the full back line. Cathal Cusack and Ciaran O’Neill could battle it out for the right half back position while Tom Devine and Ross Browne could well wear numbers six and seven.

In the middle of the field the Ardmore duo of David Gartland and Seamus Keating should continue while the half forward line could well read Joe Allen, Tadhg Bourke and their goal scoring hero from the last day Bryan French from Old Parish. The full forward line barring a major surprise should see Michael Troy, Conor Prunty and Michael Maher continue.

To win in Newbridge will be a big ask and it won’t be easy. The Roscommon side are strong and questions have been asked as to why they are playing at this level.

Football in Waterford needs a boost. What a boost it would get if Saint Augustine’s were to return home as Champions.