Connacht glory on big week for Mount marvels
Jimmy Staunton, president of Connacht Rugby, presents the trophy to Mount St Michael captain Emma Gibbons.
A powerful display by Mount St Michael resulted in the Claremorris school capturing a coveted Connacht title at a sun-splashed Ballyhaunis, on Wednesday last.
These are certainly memorable days for Mount St Michael, with their Gaelic footballers also preparing for an All-Ireland Senior ‘B’ final this Thursday.
This rugby final was played 10-side over two 20 minute halves, and had rolling substitutes, which helped greatly to an open and enthralling contest.
Both Mount St Michael and Convent of Mercy Roscommon have built up a healthy rivalry over the last few seasons, with last Wednesday’s clash the third in successive years.
Mount St Michael meant business from the outset and made a blistering start to the game with Aoife Heaney claiming a try after just one minute, with her teammate Isobel Phillips slotting over the subsequent conversion.
Covent of Mercy had edged the recent battles between these sides and the Roscommon outfit showed their determined attitude when Shauna Walsh pinched a five pointer on three minutes, which was buttressed by Siofra Hession’s exquisite conversion.
The opening exchanges of the game were gripping, with Mount St Michael’s Siomha McNulty crossing the whitewash, before her teammate Phillips added another well-taken conversion. However, a doughty Roscommon outfit remained on the coattails of their opponents with a try from Hession reducing the deficit to just two points (14-12).
The South Mayo students had learned from previous games and they were eager not only to add scores but play a swashbuckling and entertaining style of rugby too.
Aoife Heaney was always looking to find that vital pocket of space and when Claremorris forced a turnover, she snaffled up possession and bolted for the Roscommon posts before gleefully crossing the scoring zone. Phillips duly struck over the conversion and the Red and Black held a 21-12 lead after 12 minutes.
The Roscommon town students tried their level best to find an avenue back into the game but suffered a further set-back towards the end of the opening quarter. Some stern pressure from Claremorris saw Phillips pinch possession and she made an evasive and tricky run past the Roscommon defence before notching a memorable try. Phillips then stepped up to guide over the conversion, much to the delight of the vocal Mount St Michael supporters.
The result seemed inevitable on 18 minutes when the Mayo girls claimed their fifth try of the joust, after Grace Kelly made the touchdown following an excellent pass from Phillips who once again was coolness personified from the placed ball to give the Red and Black a commanding 35-12 lead during the half-time musings.
A positive start to the new half was imperative for the chasers but further distance was put between the sides on 25 minutes when a devastating Mount St Michael counteroffensive culminated in Siomha McNulty claiming a deserved five-pointer. Phillips added her sixth conversion of the afternoon and the game was now beyond the reach of the Roscommon side.
Leading by 30 points (42-12) some teams may have eased off the gas, however, Mount St Michael were determined to end the tie in a lively fashion and on 47 minutes, a delightful offload from Phillips set-up the raiding Heaney who duly crossed the try line to score her third try of the day, with Phillips calmly striking over the subsequent two-pointer.
As the game petered out, Mount St Michael’s Isobel Philips scored another try and struck over the conversion, to help round off what was an awesome display by the Claremorris students.
“It is testament to the amount of work that these girls have put in since minis rugby, and under-10s at the local rugby club in Claremorris, and the players’ love the game,” said Mount St Michael coach Brendan Hession afterwards.
“Damien Heffernan, who was also on the sideline today, has done amazing work coaching these players as well,” added Harrison.
“We have lost two finals against Convent of Mercy in the last two years and they are a smashing team. They will be back again and they have super players. The conditions suited us today and when we got the ball wide we had the finishers, and we are all just happy to have won.”
Brendan Harrison added: “This is a 10-a-side game and it is a little bit different from 15-a-side in that you have more space out there and you have to be creative. The players on the wing can take advantage of it. The plan thankfully worked for us today.”
Mount St Michael: Siomha McNulty, Ruby Jennings, Aoife Heaney, Alanna Nevin, Emma Heffernan, Leah Judge, Emma Gibbons, Amy Diskin, Isobel Phillips, Grace Kelly. Replacements: Lily Judge, Grace McDermott, Aine Lynn, Kellyann Walsh, Holly Fallon.
Covent of Mercy: Mary Hoare, Maebh Egan, Mattea Cox, Isabelle Quinn, Ciara Corrigan, Rachel Kilcoyne, Mia White, Shauna Walsh, Siofra Hession, Sadie Devaney. Replacements: Caoimhe Smith, Aishling Moran, Dilan Odemis, Katie O’Connor, Beibhinn Maher.
REF: Brian Kelly (Sligo)
