Late try seals Connacht Cup success for Marist
Marist College 33 Sligo Grammar School 29
Marist College claimed their first Connacht Schools Senior Cup success in 12 years, their fourth ever, when they dethroned reigning champions Sligo Grammar School in an engrossing final encounter played at Ballina RFC.
Claiming the prized silverware, the Marist College ended their opponent's quest for a fourth successive provincial title, an Andrew Henson try as the game reached its conclusion proving the crucial scoring difference.
In a game which was laden with quality scores throughout, Marist College ran in two tries from each of their centres, Henson and Thomas Cotton, winger Kyle Mahon complementing this quartet of scores with a stunning 90 metre breakaway run which he touched down under the posts.
Maintaining possession and scoreboard dominance, Marist College seemed on the verge of claiming provincial honours but as the game entered its closing stages, the reigning champions moved into a three point lead.
Their resilience now tested, Marist College responded and were duly rewarded for their final efforts with the all important match winning Henson score.
Marist College, Athlone: Andrew Cotton; Kyle Mahon, Andrew Henson, Thomas Cotton, Tom Bourke; Charlie O’Carroll, Conor Dowling; Hugo Hannon, Evan McMickan, Ciarán West; Peter Bourke, Kyle Byrne; Kailin Blessing, Oisín O’Donoghue, Rueben Colleran. Replacements: Philip Finan for P Bourke (half-time), Owen Egan for Dowling (44 mins), Matthew Turner for Hannon (44), H Hannon for Blessing (51), K Blessing for A Cotton (65).
Sligo Grammar School: Ben Lawler-Kerr; Jasper Gimena, Bobby Hanrahan, Mark Tempany, Andrew Hewson; Ben O’Connor, Andrew Ryan; Andrew Deegan, William Draper, Cathal Moffatt; Bertie Bamber, Jayden Bosomtwe; Kamsi Mojekwu, Alistair Hewson, Diarmaid O’Connell. Replacements: Logan O’Neill Markey for Henson (6 mins), James Winters O’Donnell for Bosomtwe (48), Bosomtwe for Deegan (54).
Referee: Cathal Roddy.