Next month marks 48 years since St Colman’s College, Claremorris became the first Mayo school to win the All-Ireland Colleges Senior ‘A’ championship title.
Next Monday – St Patrick’s Day – St Colman’s will compete in the Hogan Cup Final at Croke Park trying to emulate the achievements of the 1977 group.
Mike sat down with three members of that famous team, Eugene Macken, the captain, Charlie Gilmartin and Padraic Coyne for a stroll down memory lane.
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FreeTheEastBank says:
March 10, 2025 at 6:47 am
Thanks WJ for this.
Looking forward to it.
It documents history.
To be honest growing up as a teenager in the 80's I didn't even know about this.
catcol says:
March 10, 2025 at 1:48 pm
Was at that match, and remember it as an amazing game - another one of our under-age titles in the seventies that failed to capitalise on youthful promise.
2 hops says:
March 10, 2025 at 5:47 pm
Legend has it that no member of that team ever had to open a pencil case again....
Their names were still revered around the college long after they had moved on.
It would be marvelous if the current crop could emulate their achievement on St.Patricks day.
Best of luck to all involved.
BatetheBlanket says:
March 10, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Funny if I remember correctly there was not too many pictures of this winning team on the walls in St Colmans back in the mid to late 1980's, and was always difficult to see the line up, players and Substitutes.
A great team came in 1986 /87 but we're unlucky not to go further.
Daveslad says:
March 10, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Aiden o halloran played midfield for moate that day father of former connaught rugby full Tirnean .
That was one of the best game of football I was ever at,point for point all the way,correct me if am wrong,did John boyle from mayo gaels score the winner?.
TsuDhoNim says:
March 10, 2025 at 7:58 pm
@Daveslad: Didn't score any of the final couple of points, but was heavily involved in those big plays alright.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=208649927631679 (the video Mike references in the pod)
Doc says:
March 11, 2025 at 8:58 am
Great episode. Does anyone have a report on the match and/or the team that lined out?
The bruiser says:
March 11, 2025 at 9:07 am
Doc- the team and a report of 1977 in today's mayo news. I had a quick look at it about 10 mins ago but don't have it with me too copy in the team
Daveslad says:
March 11, 2025 at 10:53 am
Thanks ,TsuDhoNim ,didn't know this footage existed. Great too see. Benefits of this great blog.
Declan Lambe says:
March 11, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Team was: Cyril Hyland Davitts, Charlie Gilmartin Kiltimagh, Padraig Coyne Milltown, Mick Walsh Claremorris, Aidan Varley Milltown, Eddie McLoughlin Davitts, Padraig Monaghan Garrymore, John Boyle Mayo Gaels, Adrian Garvey Claremorris, Eugene Macken Capt Hollymount, James Kean Claremorris, Andrew McNicholas Kiltimagh, Gabriel Cuddy Claremorris, Peter McGuinness Claremorris, Declan Lambe Garrymore.
Final Score St Colmans Claremorris 1-11 Carmelite College Moate 1-10.
No doubt says:
March 11, 2025 at 9:28 pm
Not sure if it's just the footage but them players look like men aged 30.They'd pass as an intercounty team.
Willie Joe says:
March 11, 2025 at 10:23 pm
The Colman's pod is now available for free on all platforms!
Jr says:
March 11, 2025 at 11:14 pm
I saw the game in u tube,
A mentor( priest I think) changed a midfield player to CHB and completely changed the game.
We don't have mentors like that.
Moate change when 6 down.
Catcol says:
March 12, 2025 at 12:39 am
Jesus my memory wasn’t bad. Those highlights were sensational; scintillating stuff. Colman’s should have wrapped it up in the first half, but then they ran in to Aidan O’Halloran - what a talent; unfulfilled promise there too.
Thanks TSU. That’s pure gold.
Bringithome says:
March 12, 2025 at 11:15 am
Great buzz and colour around Claremorris and South Mayo this week with Colmans in the Hogan Cup Final, nearly feels as good as a mid September week leading up to an All Ireland with Mayo in it.Hope the lads can get over the line now and end the long wait since 1977.
Mayoman in Meath says:
March 12, 2025 at 5:01 pm
I was leaving cert in Colman’s in ‘77. Great times. Along with Aiden O’Halloran repeating the leaving cert several times to enhance their prospects of winning the AI, a player with the surname Brassil also did the same.
Mayo Man for life says:
March 13, 2025 at 10:07 am
It was normal enough in those days "repeating" the leaving cert a few times to get a good education (even if school attendance wasn't closely monitored), but also play football....was it also said that Aiden O’Halloran started a full time job in the bank in Galway the week after losing that final to Colman's?
The bruiser says:
March 13, 2025 at 12:14 pm
@mayo man they said he started the job in Galway the day after the final!! As you said staying in schools for football wasn't unusual. I remember lads who more or less dropped out of school in September when returned after summer but continued to play football for the year even if they weren't repeat students. Also stories of lads who didn't live close to the school been brought to it because they were good footballers.