Rice College too strong for St Attracta’s in senior final
RICE College created history in winning their first ever Connacht Colleges senior A football championship title after defeating St. Attracta’s in the final in Tuam Stadium on Saturday.
It was a memorable occasion for the Westport school as they were playing in their first ever schools senior final.
Less than two months ago these two sides squared up in the Connacht league final where Attracta’s came out on top by four points despite not scoring in the second half. As a result they went into Saturday’s final as odds-on favourites to win.
However, they had no answer on Saturday to a Rice College side that produced an all round five-star performance. Their brilliant team work was a delight to watch and it was this, more than anything else, that proved the big difference between the two sides.
It must also be mentioned that Rice College had to play two-thirds of the game with 14 players as they had midfield star Fintan McManamon sent off in the 20th minute.
Having the favourites tag going into the game certainly seemed to effect St Attracta’s. Rice College made their attentions known to all and sundry from the word go. There was less than 30 seconds gone when they opened the scoring with a delightful point from play from Keith Joyce. Joyce was to cause the Attracta’s defence all sorts of problems and he earned the man of the match award for his efforts.
Two pointed frees from Pat Lambert and Stephen Loftus had them three in front with just as many minutes played. When Patrick Chambers extended that lead to four points after six minutes it was beginning to look as if the Mayo side were going to run riot.
However, St. Attracta’s - although shell-shocked after those opening minutes of total Rice College dominance - hit back in style.
Midfielder Conor Murrey opened their account with a fine point from play before Paul Towey added a second from a placed ball.
Both sides missed one or two good chances before St. Attracta’s sharp shooter Red Óg Murphy fired over two points, one brilliant effort from a ‘45, to bring his side back on level terms at the end of the opening quarter.
In the 17th minute Rice College regained the lead with another fine point from Joyce. However, three minutes later the Mayo team received a real body blow when they were reduced to 14 players after Fintan McManamon was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Gavin Gorman. It was a harsh decision against McManamon.
Most observers felt that St. Attracta’s were set up to go on and win the game comfortably but Rice College had other ideas and, although a man down, they just threw everything at St. Attracta’s, out-scoring them by four points to one for the remainder of the half.
Loftus (free), Mark Moran, Lambert and Joyce were their point scorers, while St. Attracta’s point came from wing-back Liam Kerrigan.
Kerrigan had made his debut for Sligo Rovers the previous night and was by far Tubbercurry’s best player on the day. Time and time again he tried to drag his team back into the game with some whole-hearted drives up field with the ball, especially in the second half.
No one could say Rice College didn’t deserve their four-point lead at half-time. However, the big question for most people was would they be able to keep up the huge intensity they showed in the opening half. The answer to this was a resounding yes.
Rice College had extended their lead to six points just four minutes into the second half after Luke Tunney and Patrick Chambers raised white flags.
If St. Attracta’s had an uphill battle at half-time, they now had a mountain to climb in order to get back into the game.
While two pointed frees by Red Óg Murphy reduced the deficit by the 38th minute, they were dead and buried two minutes later after Rice College scored a goal and a point.
Team captain Pat Lambert fired over a magnificent point before he set up Keith Joyce to punch home the only goal of the game in the 40th minute. There was no way back for St. Attracta’s now. After Stephen Loftus and Aaron Perry exchanged points, the Sligo side could only manage two points in the final quarter against a stone wall Rice College defence.
Red Óg Murphy saw his penalty saved by Rice College’s keeper Cian Kennedy in the 50th minute
In the end Rice College achieved their historic victory with a team performance that was second to none.
For St. Attracta’s it was hard losing their third final in as many years.
RICE COLLEGE: C. Kennedy, L. Dawson, R. Brickenden, R. Walsh, J. Carney, E. McLoughlin, M. Brady, F. McManamon, P. Chambers (0-2), K. Joyce (1-3), M. Moran (0-1), L. Tunney (0-1), S. Loftus (0-3), P. Lambert (0-3), C. Heaney.
SUBS used: K. McGuire, R.Harper, C. Calvey.
ST ATTRACTA’S: G. Gallagher, D. Barrett, O. Grehan, O. McCann, L. Kerrigan (0-1), K. O’Hara, N. Connolly, G. Gorman, C. Murray (0-1), P. Towey (0-1), A. Reilly, K. Óg Kennedy, R. Óg Murphy (0-5), C. Ryan, E. Sweeney. SUBS used: M. Clavin, A. Perry (0-1), M. Lundy, P. Connolly, J. Durkin, R. Bailey (0-1).
REFEREE: V. Hardiman (Roscommon).