Final
Rice College 2-10
Westport
St Attracta’s 1-7
Tubbercurry
Mike Finnerty
Parke
IT may not have made up entirely for their provincial championship defeat against the same opposition, but Rice College, Westport exacted some measure of revenge in last week’s Connacht Colleges Senior B League final.
The West Mayo lads completely dominated a lively, free-flowing match and actually led by eleven points with ten minutes remaining. However, a late rally from the Connacht championship winners (who were never allowed to build up a head of steam here) narrowed the margin of victory at the end.
Not for the first time this season, Rice College’s performance was a fitting tribute to their preparation, work ethic and command of the basic skills of the game. Under Martin Connolly and Shane Conway’s watch, the Westport school play a brand of high-tempo football, underpinned by good support-play, awareness and positivity.
All these attributes were very obvious right from the start as Rice College got on top in all the key positions and by half-time had raced into a 2-6 to 0-4 lead.
Full-forward Liam Staunton, yet again, led the line superbly and racked up 1-5 (all of the points from frees) in that first half. His place-kicking was, predictably, superb while he finished the goal well in the 15th minute after good work from Shane McDermott and Shane Geraghty in the build-up.
Rice College’s first goal had arrived on nine minutes from George Chambers after Brian Fleming (an imposing and creative presence at centre-back) had supplied the killer-pass. Chambers lost his marker cleverly before hammering the ball to the Tubbercurry net.
St Attracta’s were way off the pace in the opening half and only four converted place-balls from Brian Egan (2) and Joe Rogers (2) kept them in touch.
They had no answer to the industry and endeavour of Westport’s dominant midfield diamond where Brian Fleming, Oisín Sweeney, John Sammon and Gary Keane ruled the roost. They were ably supported by Nathan Lally, Fearghal Hughes, Colm Higgins and Shane McDermott who attacked relentlessly from the flanks.
The pace of the game dipped, understandably, after the restart but Rice College never relinquished their iron-grip on the initiative.
Their full-back line of Patrick Keane, Liam Kitterick and James Walsh were in uncompromising form and three points during the third quarter at the other end effectively put the game beyond St Attracta’s. John Sammon, Shane Geraghty and Fearghal Hughes hit the target during that spell and only some poor shooting dogged plenty of other neat approach-work.
Tubbercurry’s anticipated revival eventually materialised in the final ten minutes but came too late to affect any great change. Brian Egan, who tried hard all through without getting any great reward, finished with a flourish and reeled off 1-3 in the closing stages.
His goal was well-taken, and had to be, to beat the otherwise excellent David Carroll. The Westport ‘keeper’s smart save in the first half from Egan proved crucial in the end and he pulled off another good stop in the final minutes.
Rice College defended stoutly against Tubbercurry’s late rally and the likes of Liam Kitterick, Brian Fleming, Oisín Sweeney, Colm Higgins, John Sammon, Liam Staunton and sub’ Joe O’Malley played crucial roles at that slightly nervy stage.
The final whistle brought signs of great celebration for Rice College who were unlucky to be pipped by St Attracta’s after an epic championship semi-final earlier in the season at the same venue. The only pity was that Westport captain, Shane McDermott, didn’t get the opportunity to lift the Senior ‘B’ League Cup. Unfortunately, it wasn’t there.
It was the only disappointing note on yet another good day for the footballers of Rice College and the absence of silverware even prompted St Attracta’s manager, Anthony Brennan, to label the situation ‘a disgrace’ afterwards.
In response, Connacht Council Secretary, John Prenty told The Mayo News: “Due to unforeseen uncircumstances, the person due to present the cup couldn’t be there. We do our best to get the cups for our senior competitions presented every year but, unfortunately, that didn’t happen last week.”
Rice College
David Carroll; Patrick Keane, Liam Kitterick, James Walsh; Nathan Lally, Brian Fleming, Fearghal Hughes; Oisín Sweeney, John Sammon; Colm Higgins, Gary Keane, Shane McDermott (0-1); George Chambers (1-0), Liam Staunton (1-4, 3fs), Shane Geraghty.
Subs used: Joe O’Malley for Higgins (inj); Darren Browne for Hughes.
St Attracta's
John O’Hora; Conor Gorman, Cian O’Dowd, Kevin Gallagher; Raymond Connolly, James Kelly, Jason Matthews; Cian Killoran, Denis Coffey; Damien Gaughan, Joe Rogers, Cristóir Davey; Cathal Brennan, Brian Egan (0-2, 1f, ‘45), Ciaran Brennan.
Subs used: Padraic Leonard for Ciaran Brennan (inj); Ciaran Brennan for Rogers; James Brett for Gallagher.
Referee: J Hughes (Kilmaine)
