Attracta’s into Connacht final
ST ATTRACTA’S CBS ROSCOMMON 1- 13 1- 9 THE importance of good scoring forwards was well and truly endorsed at the Connacht Centre of Excellence on Wednesday evening last when St Attracta’s defeated a gritty Roscommon CBS in the semi- final of the Connacht Schools Junior Football Championship.
On a bitter cold evening, Attracta’s brought a fine crowd of supporters to the Mayo venue. They were rewarded as the Tubbercurry school justified pre- match favouritism to defeat a persistent Roscommon side.
However, the free- flowing football one normally associates with their play wasn’t exactly there on the evening.
It was replaced by a workmanlike display that was required to defeat a never- say- die Roscommon side.
Attracta’s possess some fine individual players, particularly in attack. They certainly delivered when required, and their effectiveness more than anything else is the main reason Attracta’s are in another final.
Wind- backed Roscommon enjoyed a great start to the game with a Charlie Carthy point in the opening minute, however, the ensuing play gave glimpses of the football Attracta’s are capable of when in full flow.
Red Óg Murphy opened their account with a point from a placed ball.
Conor Feeley and Red Óg landed a brace of points within minutes.
Then a lightning exchange between Murphy and Paul Towey saw the Charlestown man find the net with a bullet- like drive.
The interplay between two fine forwards underlined the danger inherent in Attracta’s attack.
However, Roscommon began to disrupt the supply to Attracta’s forward line with some good play at midfield from Albert Looby and Richard Walsh.
They scored three points from Looby, James Fitzpatrick and Orin Walsh.
The scores were interspersed with one from Red Óg Murphy for the winners.
Murphy continued to torture the Rossies with a brilliant point from an acute angle.
He was denied a goal on seventeen minutes when CBS goalkeeper Gustavz Rodriques brought off a brilliant save.
Roscommon’s growing grip on the game was rewarded when Liam Ormsby punched a long cross to the net after twenty- minutes. The scoring was shared during the final ten minutes of the half, with Alan Reilly and Red Óg Murphy ( a free) adding points for Attracta’s.
Richard Walshe and Orin Walshe replied for the Rossies. This left Attracta’s leading at half time by 1- 7 to 1- 6. Attracta’s extended their lead after the short- whistle with a brace of points from Red Óg Murphy, the first after Paul Towey fed him with a great pass. When Michael Gorman extended their lead with a lovely point, we had visions of Attracta’s totally controlling the play.
However, CBS began to win a lot of ball around the midfield diamond, and started to run at the winners’ defence. However, a Paul Towey point after Red Óg Murphy supplied the pass left the Sligo lads leading by 1- 11 to 1- 6.
Attracta’s judiciously brought Red Óg Murphy to midfield, and his presence there was vital in stabilising the vital area.
Before the finish, Roscommon rattled off three great points from Orin Walsh ( one free), with Paul Towey replying with two for the eventual winners. Even though Attracta’s found the going tough at times, they produced the goods when required, after undergoing a searching test of their credentials.
The tense tough exchanges Attracta’s encountered from a spirited CBS side should stand to them when they contest the final.
The likes of David Barrett, Dillon Wright, Kevin O’Hara, Matthew Clavin, Paul Towey, Gavin Gorman and their talisman Red Óg Murphy all did enough to ensure Attracta’s safe passage to the final. ST ATTRACTA’S: G Gallagher, D Barrett, D Wright, O Sweeney, C Murray, K O’Hara, D Murphy, M Clavin, C Feeley ( 0- 1), P Towey ( 1- 3,1f), G Gorman ( 01), M Gorman, R Óg Murphy ( 0- 7,4fs), A Reilly ( 0- 1), A Perry. Subs used; R Walsh for C Feeley, R Moylan for M Gorman, O McCann for A Reilly. CBS ROSCOMMON: G Rodriques, J Browne, J Martin, K Walsh, C Walsh, J Lohan, E Keane, A Looby ( 0- 1), R Walsh ( 0- 1), O Walsh ( 0- 5,3fs), C Lawless, L Ormsby ( 1- 0), C Carthy ( 0- 1), J Fitzpatrick ( 0- 1), T Lamb. REFEREE; P Geraghty ( Swinford).