Classy Gerald's are kings of Connacht

CONNACHT COLLEGES SENIOR FOOTBALL FINAL

St Gerald's Castlebar 1-10

Claregalway 1-8

Bekan

Flowing football, fabulous scores, feverish tackling and a ferocious work ethic propelled the young men of St Gerald's College to a glorious Connacht title on Sunday afternoon in Bekan.

To say that they played the better brand of football would be an understatement, but the quality of the Claregalway players meant there was never much between the sides and it required all hands-on-deck in the closing moments to keep out a late close-range free from the chasing team's best forward Éanna Monaghan.

However, St Gerald's inspirational captain, Fionan O'Reilly, was destined to get his hands on the Aonghus Murphy Cup and when he raised it towards the heavens the roar could be heard back in the county town.

The winning team had kicked some of the finest scores seen for a long time at this level. Dara Neary, in particular hit four points of the highest quality while Cian Walsh caused Claregalway all sorts of problems every time the ball came his way.

The Forry brothers, Gavin and Joe, were outstanding all day while every young man in blue played a part in a performance built on the back of a massive work-ethic and impressive attacking football.

After 30 entertaining minutes, Gerald's went to the dressingroom with a deserved four-point lead, 1-6 to 0-5. Claregalway had enjoyed a lot of possession but Gerald's were more decisive up top and a goal from Walsh after 13 minutes gave them a healthy buffer.

Walsh, Joe Forry, Neary and Gavin Forry were highly impressive for the Mayo school in attack while Fionan O'Reilly and Yousif Coghill were busy and smart at the back. Paddy Flannelly and Shane Cunningham worked extremely hard in the middle but they had their hands full with

Killian Trayers and Jack Lonergan.

Monaghan, the Claregalway captain and former Galway minor was well held by the Gerald's back line in the first half and the boys looking to win the first title for their school never troubled Sean Rabbette between the Castlebar sticks.

Walsh's goal and two classy points from Neary were the pick of the first half scores while the accurate Ryan Gibbons and Gavin Forry also landed pointed frees.

The Galway boys came out firing after the resumption and Monaghan closed the gap to three as they enjoyed a lot of possession. However, ferocious and disciplined Gerald's tackling kept them at bay as Jack Prendergast, Muiris Ó Clochartaigh, Seanie O'Reilly and Connall Durcan worked tirelessly.

Cathal Keaveney Cunningham and Flannelly were putting body and soul on the line around the middle while the Forry brothers redefined the definition of hard work.

The gap was extended to four again midway through the second half, 1-7 to 0-6, when the Mayo boys were hit with a hammer-blow. A well-delivered free was kept out by Gerald's 'keeper Sean Rabbette but the raiding Ryan Flanherty grabbed the ball and lashed it home.

That concession would have rattled many teams but not the Castlebar scholars. They steadied the ship and when Gavin Forry kicked a free and Neary landed a stunner after a wonderful turnover won by Patrick Flannelly, they were three up with eight minutes to play.

All around the ground the noise levels rose as Claregalway threw everything forward and Gerald's harried and hunted and won ball after ball.

The leaders were boosted by the arrival off the bench of Evan Walsh and former Mayo minor, Zac Collins as time ticked away and when a barreling run into enemy territory by Cian Walsh ended with Neary kicking another stunner it seemed all over.

However, there were still four minutes of injury time to be played and when Monaghan left just a goal between them after 62 it brought the prospect of a draw over the horizon.

Another big ball into the Gerald's square was well dealt with by Rabbette before a scrum in front of his posts resulted in a 14-yard free being awarded.

Geralds lined the goal with a wall of blue; Monaghan stepped up and drilled for the bottom corner but a Castlebar boot kept it out. Eoin Geraghty grabbed the rebound and kicked a point to leave just two between them, but by that stage Gavin Forry had his arms in the air after hearing from the ref that the whistle was about to blow.

Moments later all hell broke loose as realisation dawned that the most prestigious trophy in Connacht Colleges sport was headed for Castlebar.

A full match report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News