Rice College manager lauds ‘brilliant performance’ following Connacht SFAI title win

THESE are exciting times at Rice College.

You couldn’t but get the sense of that from speaking to their team manager Darragh Connolly and full-back Sean Casey just after the post-match euphoria had abated.

“It was a brilliant performance from the team,” Connolly told The Mayo News.

“We came into it confident we knew what we could do and it was brilliant to pull it off on the day and make all the hard work pay.

“It took us a little while to settle in obviously. We had the wind against us, that’s the way we wanted to start. The lads, they know what to do at this stage, they have composure, and they didn’t let that affect them. Once we got settled into our playing style, I thought we were the better footballing side and I think that showed in the end result.”

With an All-Ireland senior schools title in their glowing trophy cabinet, soon to be accompanied by a Connacht Under-17 title, it’s safe to say soccer is riding the crest of a wave along the Carrowbeg River at the moment.

“Yeah, it’s come on leaps and bounds in the school over the last couple of years and we can only put that down to the lads and their hard work,” a humble Connolly said.

“They are a brilliant bunch, nothing phases them, they’re willing to train outside of school, whenever we call on them and they stand up for each other because they are just a top bunch of fellas.”

Sean Casey had just played a match where the noise levels would mirror a Barcelona-Real Madrid Champions League Final.

It clearly didn’t phase him.

“[The chanting] from your own team as well, from your own fans, you want to do it for them. They’re always at every game,” the Rice College full-back told The Mayo News.

Is there an All-Ireland in this Rice College team, we dare ask?

“Oh yeah, hopefully we can. We’ve a great team. We can push on.”

They certainly can.