Connacht title for Sligo Grammar
SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL 21 GARBALLY COLLEGE 12
Connacht Schools Senior A league
SLIGO Grammar School’s senior rugby side are the toast of Connacht after their impressive victory over a dogged Garbally to claim the Connacht Senior A league on Thursday afternoon last.
The 4G pitch in Creggs was the location for the Provincial decider and with torrential rain in the first half particularly, the large crowd of supporters, mostly from Sligo, were certainly happy to have shelter on such an evening.
Both sets of players had to battle on in tough playing conditions but it didn’t deter their spirit and Sligo Grammar were certainly buoyed by their vocal supporters, bearing drums, chanting throughout and a cluster with their faces painted in the school’s colours.
It was the Ballinalsoe side who got off to a better start and looked to be in control in the early stages.
Sligo Grammar stuck to their game plan and a converted try on the verge of halftime was just what they needed. Going into the dressing rooms five points down at 12-7 they were by no means out of this contest and it was Garbally who failed to score in the second period.
The conditions eased somewhat in the remaining half as Sligo Grammar chipped away at the Garbally lead and on 48 minutes, they went in front, a lead they wouldn’t surrender despite Garbally trying to come back.
This game was one of four finals being hosted in the Co Galway location on the day as a festival-type atmosphere was in abundance.
The rain pelted down as referee Shane Gaughan got the match underway as Garbally started with aplomb.
Sligo Grammar’s centre Hubery Gilvarry, who was influential in their semi-final victory over CBS Roscommon, was yellow carded on 6 minutes.
Three minutes later good teamwork from Garbally saw them making ground deep into the Grammar half and they were awarded for their efforts on 9 minutes when Luke Walsh crashed over.
Matthew Devine missed the conversion however Garbally kept the pressure on the Sligo Grammar defence.
They touched down again with Nick Cusack converting on 17 minutes as they led 12-0 midway through the half.
Sligo Grammar were getting more and more into the game as good pressure from Gilvarry saw them make up ground and their first try came right before the break.
They advanced, right in front of their sizeable supporters, who were chanting ‘we’re going over’.
Fiachra Staunton did just that with 36 minutes played much to the delight of the Sligo Grammar crowd.
Gilvarry stepped up to take the conversion and split the posts, Sligo Grammar behind by 12-7 at half-time with it all to play for in the second period.
Garbally were making ground through John Devine, Conor Lohan and Daithí Blackweir but a great tackle by Sligo Grammar’s Mark McGlynn and support thwarted their move.
Sligo Grammar were moving deep in the Garbally half, Adam Hunter and Matthew O’Hara edging forward but an unfortunate knock-on ended the move.
The movement from Sligo Grammar was impressive, especially with McGlynn and speedster winger Sean Ndego.
McGlynn was influential in his side’s second try alongside Darragh Feehily and Gilvarry.
It was the powerful Kacper Palamarczuk who used his strength to crash over as the sides were 12-12 apiece. A brilliant kick from Gilvarry again went over and Sligo Grammar took the lead on 51 minutes, a lead they would not relinquish.
The atmosphere was more like that of a home game in the Grammar, such was the noise from the supporters.
Chants of ‘Whelan’s on fire’ were filling the ground as the supporters edged their team on.
It looked like victory was headed to the
Sligo side and on 72 minutes Feehily and Hunter were instrumental with Palamarczuk somehow finding space through the Garbally defence to dot down under the posts, Gilvarry getting three from three.
The title was heading to Sligo Grammar as their elation at the full-time whistle was immense.
SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL: Sean Nee, Ben Millar, Tynan Maxwell, David Barlow, Matthew O’Hara, James Whelan, Adam Hunter, Kacper Palamarczuk, Jacob Fleming, Darragh Feehily, Sean Ndego, William Whelan (C), Hubert Gilvarry, Mark McGlynn, Isaac Ellison. Subs used: Fiachra Staunton, Oisín Joyce.
Subs: Evan Barroso, Rory Brown Tobia, Josh Marks, Ethan Slane, Andrew Sproule, Nan Koranteng, Mark Irwin, Sam Atumonyogo, Jamie Moore, Antoine Routisseau.
GARBALLY COLLEGE: Robbie Carry, Jamie Curley, Seamus Egan, Brian Feeney, Padraig Galvin, Daithí Blackweir, Conor Lohan, John Claffey, Matthew Devine, Nick Cusack, Luke Walsh, John Devine, Matthew Kelly, Tom Fitzpatrick, Adam O’Carroll. Subs: Luke Feehily, Joey Carry, Andrew Doyle, Naoise Murphy.
REFEREE: Shane Gaughan. TJ’s: Peter Gaughan & Cathal Donovan.