“Ballybay were a level above any team we had played”

BOHERBUE Comprehensive School went down with their heads high at the end of a pulsating All Ireland Colleges SFC Final won by a skilful Ballybay Community College from Monaghan.

The Ulster champions secured a first time win on the basis of finishing strongly and an all important goal netted by Julius Sniauksta late in extra time.

Boherbue team manager Kevin Roche put a brave face on the extra time defeat and an agonisingly loss by a mere two points.

“It was a phenomenal game, end to end football, we looked good at key stages, particularly at the end of both halves over the initial hour and at the end of the first period of extra time when we led by two points,” he said.

Indeed Boherbue held their own for the best portion of the 80 minutes played but buckled under the weight of Ballybay’s telling strike.

“That goal killed us, the boys had given everything , all involved contributed to a massive game. Hard though as we tried to rescue the deficit, time caught up and it wasn’t to be,” said the Cork team boss.

Opposite number Ballybay manager Kieran Byrne was understandably upbeat to complete a remarkable journey and add the Edmund Ignasius Rice Cup.

“It’s a dream come through for all involved, just like Boherbue, we come from a rural setting but what a brilliant game from two committed sides. We needed something special, Julius turned it on in some of the earlier games and I knew, he was capable of producing another piece of magic,” he said.

“Some of our players had been involved with the Monaghan minor side crowned Ulster champions last season. That experience counts but we required a serious team effort to quell Boherbue,” said Byrne.

Having worked so hard to give themselves a terrific chance of the prized silverware, Boherbue saw Ballybay slam the door on their hopes.

“It took us a few minutes to get into the pace of the game but Jack Curtin’s goal settled us. Reflecting on the game, its fair to say, Ballybay were a level higher above any team that we had previously encountered,” said Roche.

The disappointment looks to be short term for many of the Boherbue Schools team are tied up in a hectic schedule.

“Players hold important club commitments at U-21 and other grades, as a schools team, we plan to convene again later in the week to prepare for a County Final against Mitchelstown CBS,” said the coach.