Attracta’s fall at final hurdle
St Attracta’s 0-8 St Colman’s 2-8
Cathal Mullaney
St
Attracta’s bid for a historic first ever Connacht Post Primary Senior ‘A’
Championship title came unstuck last Saturday afternoon, when St Colman’s of
Claremorris claimed the honours in an eventful final played at the Connacht GAA
Centre of Excellence in Ballyhaunis.
In front of
a huge crowd at the Mayo venue, St Attracta’s never quite reached the heights
of their displays in the lead up to the provincial decider, and indeed
struggled for large periods against a St Colman’s side intent on overturning
their league final defeat to the same opposition.
Despite a
tremendous opening quarter, after which they held a 0-5 to 0-0 lead, Colm
McGee’s side were second best for large periods of the game, though the tie
remained in the melting pot up until Stephen McGreal lashed home St Colman’s
second goal to extend their lead to five points in the final minute of normal
time.
Oisin
Higgins’ dismissal for a second yellow card after 41 minutes proved to be a
real blow to St Attracta’s – they never recovered from this setback – and
despite their best efforts in the closing stages, St Colman’s were, on the
balance of the full hour, deserving winners.
That said St
Attracta’s looked to be on course for another Connacht title after a dream
start, which included five points in the first 16 minutes.
Red Óg
Murphy delivered the opening two scores for St Attracta’s – one of which was a
marvellous 45’ – while Paul Towey, Conan Marren and Conall Ryan all raised
white flags to leave their side in a comfortable-looking position midway
through the opening period.
However, St
Colman’s started to dominate the middle third from this juncture and James
Jennings followed a point in the 22nd with a fine goal three minutes
later to reduce arrears to a single point.
Evan Ronane
and Conall Ryan exchanged points prior to the break to leave St Attracta’s in a
0-6 to 1-2 half-time lead, but St Colman’s took over after the interval.
Conan
Marren’s free extended St Attracta’s lead briefly to two points, but St
Colman’s then registered four points on the spin to hit the front for the first
time.
Evan Ronane
(2), the outstanding Conor Diskin and Finnian Brady all hit scores in this
period, while Oisin Higgins’ sending off further derailed St Attracta’s
challenge in the 41st minute.
The
Tubbercurry school bridged a 21-minute spell without scoring when Red Óg Murphy
fired over a free to reduce the gap to one, 1-6 to 0-8, but in the frantic
closing exchanges St Colman’s effectively sealed the title with a goal from
Stephen McGreal in the final minute of normal time.
There was a
15-minute stoppage following this score due to an injury to St Attracta’s
player Joe Moran, but following the resumption McGreal popped up again for the
game’s final point to further extend his side’s advantage, as St Attracta’s
courageous challenge fell short.
St
Attracta’s: A Broe; J Moran, E Gorman, K Reilly; C Surlis, M Burke, O Higgins;
A Frain, R Óg Murphy (0-3, 2fs, 1 45’); L Kerrigan, L Gilmartin, B Gorman; C
Ryan (0-2), C Marren (0-2, 2fs), P Towey (0-1). Subs used: D Brennan for E
Gorman (42), C Doddy for Reilly (49, BC), S Ó Baoighill for Kerrigan (49), T
Henry for Moran (61), K O’Kennedy for Surlis (61)
St Colman’s:
B McGuinness; K Fahey, K Lydon, B Hughes; D Gannon, P Barry, B Quinn; C Diskin
(0-1), C Golding (0-1); S McGreal (1-1, 1f), J Ronayne, E Hession; J Jennings
(1-1), L Óg Horkan, E Ronane (0-3, 3fs). Subs used: F Brady (0-1) for Ronayne
(44, Blood Sub) D Trench for Gannon (49), B O’Reilly for Jennings (62), T
Morris for Golding (76)
Referee: E
O’Grady (Leitrim)