Castlebar boys triumph over Mayo rivals
Cathal Keaveney of St Gerald's College wins the ball above the St Colman’s pairing of Harry Smith and Conor Lydon. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
A spirited late rally by St Colman’s College proved in vain at a chilly Bekan on Friday afternoon, as St Gerald’s secured the all-important victory to leapfrog their gallant opponents in the group standings and advance to the semi-finals of the senior ‘A’ championship in their place.
Indeed, despite St Colman’s bossing the final quarter of this intriguing showdown, it was St Gerald’s mesmerising third quarter dominance that decided the outcome of this tie, as during that spell the Castlebar youths amassed what ultimately proved to be an unassailable seven points lead.
This Mayo derby was nip and tuck for the majority of the first-half, with St Colman’s registering the opening point of the afternoon after two minutes courtesy of Niall Hurley, with Darragh Neary’s instantaneous single levelling matters for the West Mayo School.
Hurley tapped over a free after six minutes but again the Navy and Sky Blues levelled matters as Ryan Gibbons called the umpires into action after he had received a precise delivery from teammate Yousif Aziz.
St Gerald’s posed a serious threat on the counterattack and one such move yielded a three-pointer on eleven minutes, as a deflected ball fell into the path of Evan Walsh and the latter duly rustled the back of Dylan O’Brien’s net.
If St Colman’s were rocked they didn’t show it, and white-flagged efforts from Hurley and Padraig Jennings, a majestic long-range effort, dragged their teammates back into contention.
The dingdong nature of the first-half continued, with Cian Walsh and his opposite number Darragh Beirne, a free, exchanging singles, before Beirne’s teammate Hurley rounded off a sweeping move to level this keenly contested joust at 1-3 to 0-6 after 27 minutes.
Despite St Gerald’s Ryan Gibbons slotting over a close-range free on 29 minutes, their doughty Claremorris opponents ended the half in a sprightly fashion and superb pointed efforts by the aforementioned Hurley and raiding wing-back David Slattery, ensured a slender 0-8 to 1-4 interval lead for the South Mayo outfit.
On the resumption, the Red and White continued from where they left off and a dazzling attacking foray ended with a brilliant point from the busy Beirne, much to the delight of the raucous Claremorris faithful. However, that would be the last time St Colman’s would trouble the scoreboard operator, with their next score not arriving until the 45th minute – and one which kickstarted their late revival.
St Gerald’s upped the ante and points from their marauding corner-back Aziz, and his industrious teammate Gibbons, a free, levelled matters after 36 minutes at 1-6 to 0-9.
St Gerald’s made a brilliant tactical switch and introduced substitute Joe Forry into the fray and he caused the St Colman’s rearguard plenty of problems as the game entered the melting pot.
Despite the best efforts of St Colman’s tigerish full-back Eoin McGreal, St Gerald’s were beginning to craft scoring opportunities and a marvellous long-range effort from Jack Prendergast on 38 minutes was buttressed by a Castlebar three-pointer on 40 minutes, just moments after Joe Forry had seen his curling effort saved. Cian Walsh was the protagonist as his exquisite pass found Gavin Forry and the latter finished with aplomb.
St Gerald’s were now on a roll and efforts from Gibbons, Cathal Keaveney and Gavin Forry, a free, helped muster a commanding 2-10 to 0-9 advantage as the game ticked towards the 45th minute.
Despite being up against the ropes, St Colman’s weren’t waiting for the knock-out blow and refused to throw in the towel. The lionhearted warriors kept plugging away until the bitter end and a brace of frees from the deadly Beirne, on 45 and 49 minutes respectively, offered Claremorris hope that not all was lost. And when Niall Hurley struck over a delightful point on 52 minutes, the deficit was reduced to an attainable four points (2-10 to 0-12).
St Gerald’s were concerned at their opponents new found energy and drive, and a grandstand finish was in store when Niall Hurley added what proved to be his seventh and final point of the afternoon, this time from the placed ball on 57 minutes.
During the dying embers, St Colman’s tried their level best to snatch the elusive equalising goal, but the St Gerald’s rearguard remained steadfast and withstood their opponent’s late rally.
Scorers – St Gerald’s: Gavin Forry 1-1 (0-1f), Ryan Gibbons 0-4 (2f), Evan Walsh 1-0, Yousif Aziz, Jack Prendergast, Darragh Neary, Cathal Keaveney and Cian Walsh 0-1 each.
St Colman’s: Niall Hurley 0-7 (3f), Darragh Beirne 0-4 (3f), David Slattery and Padraig Jennings 0-1 each.
St Gerald’s: Sean Rabbette; Yousif Aziz, Muiris Cloherty, Conal Durcan; Sean O’Reilly, Fionán O’Reilly, Jack Prendergast; Patrick Flannelly, Shane Cunningham; Darragh Neary, Gavin Forry, Cathal Keaveney; Evan Walsh, Ryan Gibbons, Cian Walsh. Subs: Joe Forry (for Walsh 37), Jude Lavin (for Gibbons 58).
St Colman’s: Dylan O’Brien; Adam O’Boyle, Eoin McGreal, Tom Hession; David Slattery, Conor Lydon, Conor McDermott; Harry Smith, John Finn; Ciaran Treacy, Padraig Jennings, Craig Cassidy; Sean O’Connell, Darragh Beirne, Niall Hurley. Subs: Mark Noonan (for Treacy 50), Eoghan Brogan (for Hession 52), David Hurley (for Finn 60+1, inj).
REF: John Gilmartin (Sligo)
