Late try earns replay chance for Grammar in Junior ‘A’ decider

Connacht Schools Junior ‘A’ League Final Sligo Grammar School Marist College 12 12

THE emerging force that is the Athlone’s Marist College ran into Sligo Grammar School, the reigning kings of Connacht Schools rugby at Creggs RFC yesterday, Wednesday, afternoon and these two schools delivered a thrilling encounter that enthralled supporters, before ultimately ending in a share of the spoils. The Grammar will be the more disappointed of the two sides on the balance of 70 minutes of physical, fast and gripping rugby.

Outhalf Earl Norris will have nightmares about his late kick for territory that went straight into the chest of Tom Sheehan and ultimately ended in an 80-metre breakaway try from Kyle Mahon, which was converted to level the game in the sixth minute of stoppage time. There was still time for one more sequence of play, however, and that could easily have ended in heartbreak for the Grammar, who came into this game on the back of senior double on each of the last two seasons.

Kyle Mahon again kicked down the line to put real pressure on the Grammar line, and if scrumhalf Charlie O’Carroll opted to whip the ball back to Daniel Reid, the outhalf would have had a drop goal chance straight in front of the posts, just 20 metres out. Instead, Charlie O’Carroll went for the line and didn’t quite get there, and a knock-on in the

The number of Connacht Schools Senior ‘A’ League finals contested by Sligo GS in three years. close-range try and Ollie Isherwood’s subsequent conversion snatched a 12-12 draw that will feel a lot more like a defeat for their opponents, Marist College.

The Athlone side looked much more slick with ball in hand early on, with full-back Philip Finnan particularly catching the eye. One incisive run inside the Grammar ‘22’ was met with a high tackle which allowed Andrew Cotton to open the scoring from a penalty in the sixth minute. The Grammar’s response was exemplary, as they won a penalty, kicked for the corner and crashed