CPC Boys are Leinster Champions

The Leinster Senior Boys Championship was due to be decided on this Thursday. But today the CPC boys were crowned Leinster Champions, without having to kick a ball. The CPC boys were due to play the winners of the Dublin section of the competition, the final of which was played last Friday. However, the result of that match was shrouded in controversy and an amazing turn of events saw both Dublin teams eliminated from the competition - leaving Kilcullen as Leinster Champions. The Kilcullen boys now progress to the All Ireland Semi Final on Saturday 14th March next.

Report on the Leinster Semi-final
The reigning South Leinster Schools “C” Senior Boys Gaelic Football Champions, Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen, were up against the North Leinster Champions, Ardee Community School in this All Greater Leinster decider at Trim GAA grounds last Thursday the 26th of February. We were however venturing into uncharted sporting territory for the first time in the schools proud history and understandably some pre match nerves were in evidence in the early stages. However the Passion Boys produced what I could only describe as a sensory feast of football.

This was one of the greatest shows of courage, honesty and downright defiance this Trim turf will ever throw up. I was just glad I was pitchside to witness what truly was an epic in every sense of the word. You could coach a team for years, prepare them for almost anything but you couldn’t prepare any team’s character for what these Passion Boys showed on the day.

Seven Points down with just under twelve minutes remaining and the signs were looking ominous to those in close attendance. The players had other ideas however and to a man they began to crank up this marauding footballing machine for one last throw of the dice. The midfield area was more like a minefield and the central octet of Fionn Dowling, Paul Bell, James Fahy, David Hickey, John Browne, Shane Molloy, Barry Comerford and Dwayne O Connor imposed themselves ruthlessly upon the weakening opposition. They won almost every breaking ball that was going. Led by Hickey and Browne, they made one final push towards the finish line. To their immense credit, the Kilcullen outfit never panicked and proceeded to pick the opposition apart with pinpoint aplomb. Up front they were unselfishness personified, a rare trait in men so young and the winning scores were a tribute to their togetherness in that nobody was seeking the glory score. This was a show of pure passion just like their name suggests and on this form the men in primrose and blue will take some beating.

This truly was the ultimate team performance from start to finish. As the final whistle went, I couldn’t but be proud of twenty young men who taught everyone in view a lesson in how football should be played and in particular showed the strength of the human spirit which each and everyone of them possess in abundance.

Words by Mr. Dunne, Team Mentor