A long week in many respects, the miles were really clocked up with trips to Carlow and Tralee for the footballers and hurlers. While the distances involved were considerable it was the results that made the homeward journeys seem that much more of an ordeal.

The Footballers came home with the knowledge that they had a long empty season ahead of them. Defeat in the first round is hard to take but in fairness the signs were there and this game was a mirror of their season where they showed some great passages of play but no consistency and no killer instinct.

It was the end of the road for old campaigners and with Ronan Walsh struggling with a hamstring problem he never exerted the influence he normally does. Gavin Keary likewise didn’t hit his normal high notes but played a captains part and was never lacking in effort. Alan Moran finished his playing days for the College with possibly his best ever performance; he was outstanding on the day, as he has been whenever he has worn the college colours. These guys will be sorely missed and are thanked for their contribution down through the years. All is not lost however, and there is hope for the future, as some of the younger generation showed by stepping up to the mark.

Seamus Tynan and Christy Keaney in particular were superb, Seamus may yet prove to be the high fielding dominant Mid-fielder that has been lacking for a while, Christy’s speed off the mark and familiarity with the location of the posts will turn games in future if only a few more of his teammates find their consistency. It’s definitely a time for rebuilding but it certainly looks like the blocks are in place for the job ahead.

The Hurlers return was neither as downbeat nor as final. Their trip to Tralee for the league quarterfinal was always a difficult assignment against arguably the toughest team in the country at that level. They cannot be happy with the number of unforced errors they made, nor the amount of frees they gave away, (which were mercilessly punished, and ended up the difference between the two teams). They can however look to a second half where for long spells they played the better more spirited hurling. And the defensive performances of Johnny Mullins, Michael O’Donoghue and Colm Forestall were faultless. The supply to the forward line from Wayne Power and Gerry Whyte improved dramatically, and this may well be the key to improved fortunes on Thursday for the Fergal Maher Cup clash with Marino College Dublin. Thoughts were gathered, opinions aired and if mistakes can be eliminated and possession better utilized there is a feeling that the necessary improvements will bear fruit in this championship clash.

The men’s soccer team returns to action with a trip to Carrick on Shannon to play Cavan College in The CFAI Challenge cup, while the Rugby Boys face a trip to Tipp for the rekindling of the 10-a-side blitz. The indoor five-a-side league is taking a break for Rag week and will return next week.

Best of luck to the Mountaineering club who are currently in Scotland getting some experience in winter climbing a trip that they undertake each year at this time. They have been honing their technique on the indoor climbing wall that they have recently completed at the college. The finishing of this facility as well as the organization of the trip is a credit to one of the hardest working clubs in the college