Late try wins Connacht Junior Cup for Marist

Rugby: Connacht Schools Junior Cup Final

Marist College, Athlone 10 Sligo Grammar School 7

Kevin Egan

Tom Sheehan’s try with just three minutes remaining proved to be the pivotal score as Marist College, Athlone secured their eighth Connacht Schools Junior Cup at the expense of Sligo Grammar School yesterday afternoon, and their first since 2018.

Landslide wins over Garbally College and St Joseph’s College ensured that the midlanders travelled to Galway as the hottest of favourites for yesterday’s final, but it was clear from very early on that their Sligo opponents were ready to offer stern defensive resistance.

The vast majority of the play unfolded in the Sligo school’s half of the field, with Conor Dowling and Tom Sheehan very much to the fore in trying to unpick the lock of the opposition defence, but some excellent last-ditch tackles by Alan Lawlor and Harry Graham ensured it was still scoreless at half-time.

Another goal-line stand immediately after the break, crowned with a rip tackle and clearance from Diarmaid O’Connell, further boosted the Sligo side’s confidence. And they capitalised on a rare foray forward when O’Connell touched down under the posts after 40 minutes.

The lead was short-lived as Thomas Cotton replied in kind for the Marist in the left corner, but the missed conversion meant that Sligo Grammar still had a narrow lead, which they defended zealously.

With the clock winding down, the contest hinged on the last Marist attack where Conor Naughton and Cotton were both held up short of the line, but a good line and quick hands from Seán O’Donoghue opened up a chance in the opposite corner. As Sheehan hit the deck under a pile of bodies, there was a moment of pure tension while referee Johnny Quinn assessed the situation, before ultimately raising his arm to confirm the match-winning score.

SCORERS - Marist College: T Cotton, T Sheehan 1 try each. Sligo GS: D O’Connell 1 try, M Tempany 1 con.

Marist College, Athlone: Seán O’Donoghue; Patrick Begley, Conor Dowling, Thomas Cotton, Tom Sheehan; Conor Naughton, Charlie O’Carroll; Seán Walshe, Eoin Naughton, Kailin Blessing; James Heaslip, Rian Claffey; Tom Bourke, Otega Awhinawhi, Callum Kelly. Replacements: Phillip Finnan for Begley (54 mins), Kyle Byrne for Heaslip (59).

Sligo Grammar School: Alan Lawlor; Harry Graham, Dara Holmes, Andrew Hewson, Jacob Norris; Mark Tempany, Jack Draper; Kamsi Mojekwu, William Draper, James Winters O’Donnell; George Collins, Isaac Marsden; Ambrose Devine, Oscar O’Connor, Diarmaid O’Connell. Replacements: Bobby Hanrahan for Holmes (54 mins).

Referee: Johnny Quinn.