Rice College too good for Ballinrobe

Connacht Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Championship Round 1

Rice College 1-12 Ballinrobe Community School 0-4

Oisín McGovern in Westport

AN attacking-minded Rice College have seen off Ballinrobe with eleven points to spare in the opening round of the Connacht Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Championship this afternoon.

Led by the excellent Killian Conway, a brilliant first half from Rice College left Ballinrobe twelve points adrift at half-time.

The West Mayo school eased off the throttle considerably in the second half but still held Ballinrobe to one point from play – a booming ‘Hail Mary’ from ex-Mayo Minor Jack Keane.

The sides were level for the first and only time in the second minute when Conway and former Mayo Minor Tom Lydon exchanged scores.

After that, it was all Rice College as Shane Conway’s troops strung together 1-9 before the break, barely giving Damien Egan’s BCS a sniff.

With Conway, Jack Dawson and big Conor Cannon forming a formidable attacking trident, Rice College raced ahead and found the net on 20 minutes when Cannon knocked down a high ball for Conway to volley home.

Leading 1-10 0-1 at half-time, the Westport school had a 21-mintue gap between their only two-scorers in a low-scoring second half.

Thankfully for them, Ballinrobe only mustered two Tom Lydon frees and one from play from Jack Keane as Rice College rocked home for a routine win.

There will be a full report plus reaction from Rice College manager Shane Conway in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.