ANALYSIS: How the all-Mayo schools final was won and lost

NINETY-SEVEN years after winning the inaugural Connacht schools title, St Gerald's from Castlebar inscribed their name of the Aonghus Murphy Cup for the tenth time last night in Bekan.

The Connacht Centre of Excellence gleamed under the floodlights long before throw-in as the countless twinkling lights bending through the countryside indicated the huge stream of vehicles carrying supporters towards the sporting battlefield.

The blue battalion from West-Mayo took up position in the stand early in the evening while the red army from the banks of the Moy drew their battle lines on the other flank. The chanting, the drum-beats and the cheers set the scene for a night which will be long remembered.

St Muredach's arrived with a team full of promise. Throughout the competition they had played some of the best football on view. They were striving for their first title and were full of vim and vigour. Their game plan was built on a whole-team effort decorated by hard running from the back, a relentless midfield and influential figures in the centre of their attack. 

They arrived in East Mayo with a huge band of followers behind them.

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Their opponents traveled out of West Mayo with confidence. St Gerald's hadn't played their best all year, but there was a sense that they were simmering nicely. Injuries had impacted them throughout the competition and the management team had been searching for the best formation as they made their way through the rounds. However, there was a scent in the air that they were timing their run perfectly.

All would be revealed under the sparkling floodlights in Bekan.

'The best I've felt in my life probably' says St Gerald's captain Evan Walsh

The old adage that a good start is half the battle is very true when sports teams lock horns. This is particularly apt when a team hoping to make a breakthrough is involved. On Friday night, St Muredach's, playing in their first final needed a good start. However, St Gerald's took the wind advantage from the off and cut loose. They left no room for Muredach's to settle into the game and the blues were four points up in as many minutes.

Team captain Evan Walsh got Gerald's off and running with a classy point, the inimitable Joe Forry doubled the lead and the hugely impressive Conor Hoban boomed over a two-pointer from out the country. Hoban would have a big impact throughout the game, particularly in the first half.

Muredach's took time to breathe. All season, Conor Jordan and Nathan Roddy had dictated matters in their attack while Oisin Gavin and Dylan Sweeney dominated in the middle. However, Gerald's were winning a lot of the crucial early battles.

Caolan Moran and Jack Diffley were working hard in the trenches around the middle. Fionn McHale was quietly catching the eye at centre-back while Matthew Flannelly was becoming the most influential player on the pitch. The full-back was patrolling the land in front of his posts like an uncaged tiger. He was winning the war in the air and on the ground. Muredach's were having to change their approach and they needed a spark.

They got it after 15 minutes. Oisin McCann led the way. The wing-forward lit the flame by winning a dirty ball in his own half. Soon, the fleet-of-foot Cathair Tighe was on his way and when he picked out Seán Foody closing in from the right, Tighe presented the ball in front of him.

The Bonniconlon boy crashed the ball to the net and the roar could be heard back by the Moy. Muredach's were marching and when Nathan Roddy twisted and turned and punched over a point, the red army were just one behind.

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Once again, Gerald's went to work. Forry was inches wide with a goal chance before Hoban kicked two marquee points. Flannelly arrived in the middle of the pitch to climb into the clouds and win a kick-out. Moments later, his team captain kicked a stunning two-pointer and when Forry added another orange flag the lead was out to seven as half-time approached.

It seemed as if the West Mayo boys would go to the break in a commanding position, but Muredach's had other ideas.

Team captain Patrick Carr arrowed over a free and then, just before half-time, he shot for a point from the left. The ball flew across the face of the posts and when it dropped from the sky, Roddy used all his basketball skills to soar into the air and slap the ball to the net.

The gap was back to three. Muredach's had the momenttum and the wind would be behind them in the second period.

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Gerald's were being asked some serious questions. They set about providing answers.

Former Mayo U-17, Patrick Garvey entered from the substitute's bench and had the cut of a man about to make his mark. He let out a roar two minutes into the half when kicking a point with his first involvement, but Muredach's were on the charge.

McCann and Carr kicked points and when Dylan Sweeney landed a two-pointer the stand was rocking. The sides were level and history was beckoning the team in red forward. Decades of footballers had represented the famous Ballina school but had never come within touching distance of a Connacht A title. Was that about to change?

Gerald's said no!

Goalkeeper, Oisin Costello, playing his first match after eight injury-filled months, came forward to drill over a '45. Midfielder Caolan Moran showed savage strength and desire to contribute a point from the left and then the boys in blue found the net.

Gerald's powered forward from the back. Conor Coghill carried the ball into the danger-zone and found Ben Joyce on his shoulder. Joyce blasted for the net. Muredach's impressive wing-back Alexander Smyth somehow kept the ball out, but the officials deemed that the ball had hit his hand while it was on the ground and a penalty was awarded.

Conor Bohan made a great effort to save Paul Hurst's spot-kick, but the ball was perfectly-placed in the bottom corner and when points arrived from the hugely influential wing-back Adam Burton and Ryan McNamara the lead had suddenly been stretched to eight. 

In truth, the deal was sealed at that stage and the power of the Gerald's bench ensured that their team was getting stronger by the minute as victory beckoned them onwards. Muredach's kept looking for avenues back into contention and never took a backward step but there was to be no revival.

They peppered the Gerald's goal in the closing stages, but there was no way past Costello until a shot from Conor Breslin hit the net deep in injury time.

That was the end of the affair and the boys from St Gerald's won their tenth title while the mighty young men of St Muredach's were left wondering what might have been.

Two fine football teams; two groups of talented young men; two well-coached, well-managed teams - it was a pleasure to be in Bekan on Friday night.