Club News

28/04/03 St. John's men taste All-Ireland success

St. John's experienced All-Ireland success over the weekend as two generations of players came together to record a magnificent win against Presentation College, Carlow in the All-Ireland Colleges C Football Championship.

Neil Peden and Paul Collins managed the Rathmore team, which also included Noel Rooney - current club minor dual star - to this success and in so doing Rathmore became the first Ulster College to win the title.

The final took place at Pairc Tailteann, Navan and after a close, tough encounter the final score ended up Rathmore 2-07 Presentation College, Carlow 0-12. The victory made amends for the disappointment at the penultimate stage of the competition in 2000 when Rathmore were beaten by St. Declan's, Kilmacthomas in the inaugural year of the C competition.

Neil Peden and Paul Collins both represented St. John's at football and hurling, earning senior county medals and a host of other accolades through the years. They have coached various St. John's teams in the past, including when they guided the senior hurling team safely out of Division 1B in the mid nineties. Paul currently coaches the Under 16 footballers this year, as well as taking various teams with Neil at Rathmore.

Congratulations to them and to Rathmore in this historic achievement.