Connacht Post-Primary Schools Senior ‘A Football Championship
Semi-Final
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir 1-19
St Colman's 2-13
Claremorris
(After Extra-Time)
Oisín McGovern
Bekan
A SENSATIONAL game of Connacht PPS Senior ‘A’ championship football that brought extra-time, three goals, two missed penalties and drama aplenty was ended by Maurice Sheridan’s Claregalway College side that pulled away right at the end.
A gallant effort by St Colman's wasn't enough to get them over the line, even though they led by four points at one stage in the second half of Wednesday’s thriller.
Colman's found themselves facing defeat when Claregalway's Stephen Curley (an All-Ireland Under-17 winner last season) kicked them ahead with an outrageous effort from the right boot on the right wing.
But then the inspirational Adam Beirne — who finished with 1-7 (3 frees) — took his man on at the other end and levelled the game for the sixth occasion in the depths of injury-time.
Claregalway nudged their noses in front at the end of the first half of extra-time courtesy of an effort from the excellent Eanna Monaghan.
The Galway side then missed a chance to seal the deal when Ger O'Riordan drove a penalty to the left and wide.
Colman's hit the ground running in the second half of extra-time with Adam Beirne and Peter Gallagher pointing.
However, Claregalway College came roaring back as Galway minor team-mates, Stephen Curley and Eanna Monaghan, conspired to crush Colman's dreams with three unanswered points.
The teams were level four times after a first half where Claregalway were marginally the better team.
But they missed the first of two penalties when Jack Mullin fired his effort wide.
Goals from Matthew Morris and Adam Beirne in the space of two minutes electrified the game, sending Colman's four points ahead.
Claregalway then shot 1-2 unanswered before Beirne nudged Colman's ahead with an outstanding free in the 58th minute.
Two utterly brilliant Claregalway scores looked to have sealed the game in normal time before the brilliant Beirne hit the leveller at the death.
It could have gone either way in extra-time, but Claregalway College kicked on to win.
They will now face either Ballinrobe Community School or Summerhill College of Sligo in the provincial final.
St Colman's College
D O’ Brien; E McGreal, C Lydon, J Finn; O McNulty, R Mortimer, P Gilmore (0-1); E Jennings, J Melvin; D Gallagher, M Morris (1-1), N Hurley (0-3); P Gallagher (0-1, 1f), A Beirne (1-7, 3f), C Corless.
Subs used: C Morley for Finn (41); D Beirne for P Gallagher (52); J Cummins for D Gallagher (52); P Gallagher for Morris (half-time, extra-time) D Gallagher got Gilmore (72, inj.), Finn for Morley (74).
Claregalway College
E McGrath; E Geraghty, C Hanley, R Flannery; L O'Connor (0-2), C Greaney, O Kelly; D Kilcommon, C Trayers (1-0); J Lonergan (0-1), C Murphy (0-1), O Morgan (0-1); J Mullin (0-2, 1f), J Ramsey (0-2, 2f), S Curley (0-5, 2f)
Subs used: E Monaghan (0-3, 1f) for Murphy (36); G O'Riordan (0-2, 1 '45) for Ramsey (39); H O'hEochagáin for Morgan (55).
Referee: D Lyons (Roscommon)
