That winning feeling:
Roscommon book place in rugby final
Timothy Lambe celebrates after Roscommon CBS beat Coláiste Iognáid at Creggs RFC yesterday to qualify for the Connacht Schools Senior Cup final for the first time. Roscommon will take on 46-times champions Garbally in the decider on March 13
ROSCOMMON CBS earned their place in the final for the first time when they produced a resolute defensive display to overcome Coláiste Iognáid at Creggs RFC and set up a showdown with 46-time winners Garbally College in the decider on March 13.
With a deceptively strong breeze blowing into their faces in the first half, the CBS laid the foundations for their win, producing two magnificent goal-line stands to get to the break trailing only 3-0.
Coláiste Iognáid, who were chasing a fourth consecutive appearance in the final, set up another good attacking platform thanks to a superb take from Niall Hanahoe off the second-half restart but again they came away empty-handed.
In contrast, when Roscommon CBS got their chance, they took it.
Their kicking game was now working well with the wind and after they turned over a Coláiste Iognáid defensive lineout, barnstorming runs by props Tom Farrell and Jack Tucker opened up the space for Mark Purcell to score a try, which he then converted.
After Purcell added another penalty, Ireland U-18 international Cathal Forde dived over for a try for the Galway students to set up a tense last 10 minutes, but some more great defensive work from Roscommon CBS and two more penalties from Purcell wrapped up their historic win.