Summerhill hoping to defy odds and claim first Connacht crown

SUMMERHILL COLLEGE must upset the odds against reigning champions Coláiste Iognáid if they are to claim the Connacht Schools Senior Cup for the first time at the Sportsground today (4.0).

Ross O’Boyle’s charges suffered a devastating 19-18 defeat at the hands of a Simon Keller-inspired Garbally College in their only previous final two years ago.

They avenged that defeat when free-scoring centre Ross Hickey powered over for his fifth try of the campaign in a 10-9 win a fortnight ago.

Out-half Morgan Codyre was the hero as ‘The Jes’ beat Garbally 16-15 in last year’s decider. His brother Diarmuid will captain the team today.

‘The Jes’, who beat Sligo Grammar 29-7 in the semi-finals, have seven of last year’s 15 still among their ranks, including their entire front-row of Adam Corbett, Conall Fallon and Gary Keane.

But Summerhill College will go into the final holding no fears, confident that they have the quality to dethrone the holders.

COLÁISTE IOGNÁID – A Cunningham; C Briscoe, T Forde, C McCabe, D Molloy; D Codyre, E Kenny; A Corbett, C Fallon, G Keane; D O’Connor, A Mannion; J Gallagher, C McGuinness, H Keaveney. Replacements: S Monaghan, C Parsons, M Higgins, T Power, C Anthony, R Durkin, G Kenny, R O’Flynn. SUMMERHILL COLLEGE – H Kisby; C Murray, K Connell, R Hickey, R Solano; B Cox, B Cunningham; M Keegan, V Reynolds, C McGovern; C Carty, G Golden; F Doherty, S Wynne, A Cummins. Replacements: B Smith, B Flanagan, A Probst, Y Shalabi, D Feeney, J Gorevan, T O’Hehir, R Mulligan, R Garcia, M Harte, S Chambers.