Rice College exit Connacht championship with four-point defeat

Connacht Post Primary Schools A Championship Semi-final

Coláiste Baile Clár 0-13 Rice College 1-6

Oisín McGovern in Bekan

A late bounce-back was not enough to save Rice College’s bacon as the Westport school exited the Connacht championship at the hands of a talented Claregalway team.

The winners, who got 0-10 from All-Ireland Minor medallists Éanna Monaghan and Stephen Curley, were slow to shine in this fixture.

However, once Maurice Sheridan’s lads strung seven points together 16 minutes after half-time, there was to be no way back for Rice’ despite an honest effort.

A late penalty from Jack Dawson to make it a one-point game in the closing stages had their supporters on the edge of their seats, but Claregalway closed it out with points from the aforementioned duo of Curley and Monaghan.

The latter got Claregalway’s first score after all of 13 minutes before fellow ex-Galway Minor Jack Longeran kicked them into the lead for the first time.

Rice College were level three times before Dawson and Killian Conway kicked them in front towards the end of the second half.

Leading 0-5 0-3 at the break, the game was Rice College’s to win, but Claregalway had other ideas.

The excellent Stephen Curley pointed after just sixteen seconds before five follow-ups from himself, Monaghan (2 frees) and substitute Matthew Collins.

Rice’ eked out scores from Noah Massey and Fionn O’Hora after the 44^th minute before Michael McDonnell won a penalty that was calmly slotted home by Jack Dawson.

It was enough though, and John Glavey’s final whistle ultimately brought the curtain down on the school football careers of many fine Rice College players.

Claregalway will meet the winners of St Gerald’s and Summerhill in the other semi-final.

There will be a full report plus reaction carried in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.