Athy school's bid to make history in Bro Bosco Cup

Ardscoil Na Tríonóide are out to make history on Saturday next when they face Colaiste Mhuire of Mullingar in the Final of the Bro Bosco Cup, Leinster PPS Senior “A” Football Competition, scheduled for Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore with a 1pm throw in.

The Athy school will be appearing in the Final for the first time and will therefore be aiming to lift the famous Bro Bosco Cup for the very first time. They will also be hoping to maintain Kildare schools’ grip on the Cup with Naas CBS winning for the last three years and five times in seven years, only losing out to St Joseph’s of Rochfortbridge in the final in 2020 while the competition was cancelled in 2021 because of Covid.

To add to the intrigue Ardscoil defeated Naas in the quarter final of the 2024/25 competition. This has not been an overnight success according to Ardscoil manager, Michael Healy. The Cork born teacher of Irish, now just over six years in the school who plays his football with Éire Óg in Carlow and participates in athletics with St Laurence O’Toole AC, says the journey to Saturday’s Final began five years ago.

“One of the reasons that I took the job in Ardscoil was the long-standing history of Gaelic Football in the school which was really encouraged and promoted by my first Principal, Johnny McCormack and it has been carried through to today under the current Principal Imelda Whelan,” the manager tells us. 

“We started this journey about five and a half years ago and I have been over them from First Year all the way up. Our main aim was basically to reach a Leinster “A” Senior Final so we are here now and let’s give it our best shot.” 

The Ardscoil na Tríonóide team has representatives from seven clubs in Kildare and Laois - Athy, Castlemitchell, St Laurence’s and Rheban of Kildare as well as Laois clubs St Joseph’s, Ballylinan and Barrowhouse. The task for Healy was to get the players from all the clubs to gel together.

“They had their rivalries at club level but we had to pick a team so that they all play as one. They are all great friends in school and they have such a bond and such a connection. They understand what they need to do and they are a brilliant bunch of lads to work with,” Healy explains.

 “They have played together for so many years now they know where each player is, where they are going to run. They know which player is going to kick the ball or handpass it. They know what style of play that we have been playing and we are able to adjust and adapt to whatever team we have to play against.” 

With a panel of 38 competition for places on the team is very keen. 

“At training we always have about 30 lads from a panel of 38 and the lads know if someone gets injured there is someone else to fill in and if someone gets that chance to take that jersey then it’s their jersey if they perform well.” 

With seven clubs and communities involved it is no surprise that there is excitement in the area as Michael Healy further explains. 

“There is a great buzz around the school at the moment between the students and the teachers and in the local community. I have been getting great feedback from the local community and the seven clubs involved on the excitement and everyone is looking forward to being in Tullamore for the Final.” “When I first started with the team, I could see their potential and their dedication and throughout the years the bond has grown between myself and the players and their attitude is exemplary.” 

The team lost a Junior A Final to St Pat’s Navan which has motivated them for this year. “We don’t want to be feeling like we did that day,” Michael Healy warns.

A balancing act has been found to deal with studies and other sports according to Healy. 

“At the moment the sixth years are doing their Mocks so we are trying to balance that with their other sports as well. They just come to me and we will try and work around things, I will never try and overburden them. The county managers have been really supportive too and they have been really good in understanding the workload of the players.” 

Cappagh’s Tom Nolan, another teacher in the school, is a selector with Michael Healy. 

“Whenever I need advice or anything like that, I know Tom is right there beside me. He’s my right-hand man, basically.” 

Looking forward to Saturday’s final Healy says. 

“I have seen Colaiste Mhuire in a few matches, they are a very good side, very good defence, quick into attack. We know they will be a tough opposition to play against but the lads are ready so let’s give it our best shot.”

 “Preparations are going good so far and the lads are really looking forward to the final. They are aware that we have won nothing yet but they are focussed, which is the main thing.” 

Concluding Healy says. 

“I’m looking forward to the lads performing to their best ability. I want them to go out and showcase how they have improved and how they have been working from Day 1 in First Year up until this moment and not to let the occasion get the better of them. I want them to show off their unbelievable skillset, their mindset, dedication and physicality and I want them to show everyone why they should be in the Final.”

Path to the final 

Ardscoil na Trínóide’s historic run to a first Bro Bosco Cup Final, against Colaiste Mhuire of Mullingar on Saturday in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore with a 1pm throw in is an impressive as you might expect.

They opened with a draw in their first game against Knockbeg and beat Marist College thanks to goals by Evan Doogue, Paidi Kelly and Darragh Farrell.

Ashbourne CS were next up but they were blown away in a terrific 7-16 to 0-1 win.

That victory put Ardscoil na Trínóide into the knockout stages and they again ran up a big score in a 5-12 to 3-9 win against Ardee CS – Harry Grainger, Colm Moran, Sam Lynch, Evan Doogue and Paidi Kelly with the goals.

That set up a Kildare derby in the quarter-final and a clash against a Naas CBS side who had won five of the last six titles, including in the last three years. It brought the best from Ardscoil na Trínóide and they always in charge during a 0-13 to 1-3 victory.

As big as that win was, it was only enough to qualify for a semi-final and there was still plenty of work to do against a strong Moate CS side but once against Ardscoil na Trínóide turned in a commanding performance.

It means that in three of their last four games in the competition, Ardscoil na Trínóide have conceded four scores or less but they are far from a defensive team and have plenty of quality in attack too. They will need to pull everything together for the final but they can go into Saturday’s decided confident in the knowledge that if they play to their best then that will put them in with a great chance of winning a Leinster title.

PATH TO THE FINAL 

Round 1 - Ardscoil na Trínóide 1-11 Knockbeg College 1-11 

Round 2 - Ardscoil na Trínóide 3-13 Marist College Athlone 1-13 

Round 3 - Ardscoil na Trínóide 7-16 Ashbourne Community School 0-1 

Prelim Round - Ardscoil na Trínóide 5-12 Ardee Community School 3-9 

Qr Final - Ardscoil na Trínóide: 0-13 Naas CBS 1-3 

Semi Final - Ardscoil na Trínóide 0-12 Moate Community School 0-4

Ardscoil na Trínóide squad: Oisín Groarke (Castlemitchell GFC), Daniel Henry (Athy GFC), Mark Grufferty (St Laurence’s), Liam Byrne (Athy GFC), Cameron Pedreschi (Athy GFC), James Donnelly (St Laurence’s), Calum Keaveny (Athy GFC), Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s GAA, Laois), Robbie Murphy (St Joseph's GAA, Laois), Ronan Kelly (Athy GFC), Colm Moran (Athy GFC), Sam Lynch (St Joseph’s GAA, Laois, Evan Doogue (Castlemitchell GFC), Darragh Farrell (St Joseph's GAA, Laois), Paidi Kelly (Castlemitchell GFC), Shane Baldwin (Ballylinan GAA, Laois), Eoin Coffey (Castlemitchell GFC), Cian O’Rourke (Castlemitchell GFC), Roan Brennan (St Joseph’s GAA, Laois), Harry Grainger (Athy GFC), Seán Rowan (St. Joseph’s GAA, Laois), Tom Brophy (Athy GFC), Conor Byrne (Rheban GAA), Niall Hickey (Ballylinan GAA, Laois), Glenn Doyle (St. Laurence’s), Max Conway (Athy GFC), Bobby Walsh(Ballylinan GAA, Laois), Cormac Doolan (St Laurence’s GAA), Tom Kelly (St Laurence’s GAA), Rory Chanders (Athy GFC), Dean Hyland (Castlemitchell GFC), Matthew Nelligan (St. Joseph’s GAA, Laois), Logan Brennan (St Joseph’s GAA, Laois), Fionn Whelan (St Laurence’s), John William Grufferty (St. Laurence’s), Jack McCabe (Castlemitchell GFC), Ben Howe (Barrowhouse GFC), Seamus Lynch (St Joseph’s GAA, Laois) 

MANAGEMENT TEAM: Michael Healy, Tom Nolan 

CLUBS REPRESENTED Athy GFC: 9 St Joseph’s GAA: 9 Castle-mitchell GFC: 7 St Laurence’s GFA: 7 Ballylinan GAA: 3 Barrowhouse GAA: 1 Rheban GAA: 1