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The victorious Garbally College U14 team.Connacht U14 Schools Premier League Final
Garbally College 24-14 Marist College
Report courtesy of Garbally College
Garbally College defeated Marist College 24-14 in the Connacht Schools Premier League final in a sunny Ballinasloe RFC last week.
The firm pitch helped to serve up a rip roaring contest with both teams showing an abundance of skill and desire. It was the Athlone school who were first to capitalise on some poor tackling in the Garbally defence. The try was converted by Hugh Cunniffe to leave Marist 7-0 ahead with ten minutes played. Garbally began to exert some pressure with captain John Devine being held up over the try line before Luke Walsh powered over for a try which was converted by Cathal O’Hannluan to leave the scoreline 7-7. Marist immediately responded applying pressure with their dominant pack before half-time but the Garbally defence held firm. (Half-time: 7-7)
The second half started positively for the Ballinasloe school with Daithi Blackweir scoring a converted try after sustained pressure. Marist again responded superbly with impressive no. 8 Martin O’Grady crossing for a converted try tying up the scores 14-14. The end to end contest continued with Garbally quickening up the tempo of the game. This increased tempo led to a number of infringements from a tiring Marist defence before Cathal O’Hannluan dispatched a penalty between the posts to leave Garbally a slender lead 17-14 with ten minutes remaining.
Garbally piled forward after the restart and were awarded with a try from Liam Collins after some slick handling from backs and forwards. The victory was wrapped up for the fourth year in a row with the conversion from Cathal O’Hannluan who finished with three from three off the tee.
Garbally College: Cathal Dempsey (Dylan McDonnell), Luke Feehily, Sean Fitzgerald, Eoin Coleman, Oisin Cooley, Conor Kerley, Daithi Blackweir, Luke Walsh, Evan Hayes, Cathal O’Hannluan, Liam Collins, John Devine (c), Cian Poland, Samuel Almeida (Adam McGreal) Subs: Daniel Whelan, Daithi Ward, Adam O’Carroll, Jack Finn, James Mooney, Cormac Gillespie, Gavin McManus, Evan Clancy, Oisin Flynn, Jason Galvin, Conor Kenny, Luke Galvin, Johnny Corcoran.
