College Ultras keep crowd entertained as Peter’s drive on

LAST WEEK I had the opportunity to see my first colleges football championship game in a long number of years when I travelled to St. Patrick’s Park to witness St. Peter’s College play Wicklow Schools in the Leinster Senior ‘A’ semi-final.

Seeing the Wexford team play in the league this year sparked my interest in this game, as they are a very talented group of players and I wanted to see them perform in a more pressurised situation. Also the possibility of the winners playing Good Counsel in the final added further interest in the outcome.

The game itself was an entertaining affair, with St. Peter’s showing their dominance in the first-half with some excellent scores. A 0-9 to 0-3 half-time lead did not flatter the Wexford outfit as they were in complete control of the game.

St. Peter’s dominated midfield and caused serious problems when they ran at the Wicklow defence. Also when they varied their game the inside forwards had the better of their markers and it looked like they would win the game comfortably.

At the start of the second-half it was felt that a couple of early scores would finish the game off. Wicklow Schools had other ideas and worked their socks off to get back into the game.

They held the college scoreless for almost 15 minutes and reduced the deficit to three points.

The skill and athleticism of both sets of players was great to watch as they battled for superiority.

St. Peter’s re-established their dominance and with the help of some excellent scores held out for a two-point win, in a game they never really looked like losing.

There were many excellent players on display and it wouldn’t be fair to single out any particular one; however, one outstanding score stood out for me.

Young Taghmon defender David O’Keeffe won a ball in the left corner-back position, exchanged a number of passes with his colleagues the length of the field, cut across to the right-hand side and split the posts with an excellent kick from about 30 metres out.

What was even more impressive was that he didn’t take the time to salute his supporters in the stand like any self respecting forward would do, but instead sprinted back the length of the field to mark his man before the ball was kicked out.

That move was definitely more from the Brian Malone school of coaching rather than from his former coach Mick Caulfield, who watched in admiration from the sideline.

While the football was enjoyable, the entertainment supplied by the magnificent St. Peter’s College supporters who packed the stand was a highlight of the day.

I don’t know if we could christen them the College Ultras or the College Kop, but they created a brilliant atmosphere and added to the entertainment.

Their singing and chanting was good humoured and enjoyable, and at times I was even distracted from the game trying to figure out what or who they were singing about.

It was something the G.A.A. could learn from and encourage among clubs and counties.

Maybe the County Board should hire these lads out for home games in Wexford Park to increase the entertainment value. The college have also adopted the Icelandic soccer team’s Viking war chant at the end of each game.

While it is great fun and entertaining, it shows a bond and a respect that has formed between the players and their fellow students. A convoy of ten bus-loads of students left Summerhill for their own invasion of St. Patrick’s Park last Wednesday, and their behaviour certainly enhanced the occasion for players and other spectators.

Let’s hope even more will travel to the final this Friday and the team will give them loads to chant and sing about, like a Leinster title.

Best of luck to all involved and hopefully this talented group will bring back the cup.