Colleges 'A' Championship

Connaught Telegraph

ST GERALDS CELEBRATE FAMOUS VICTORY OVER ST JARLATHS




St Geralds College (Castlebar) 0-10

St Jarlaths College (Tuam) 0-5

By John Melvin

If you are willing to dig deep enough you will eventually strike gold. And St Gerald's College, Castlebar, hit upon a rich vein at McHale Park on Saturday afternoon when they caused something of an earthquake in colleges football by beating St Jarlath's of Tuam- All Ireland champions two years ago- in the quarter final of the Colleges 'A' championship. The prize was a place in the semi-final against St Colman's of Claremorris.

For those not familiar with the work going on at the Castlebar school, this was something of a surprise, but it was not a totally unexpected result to those involved in building a team which has worked hard over the past year. However, for a school that has traded for so many years in the 'B' championship, the day when they would overcome the Tuam nursery in the Colleges 'A' competition must have seemed a long, long way off. But this latest crop would appear to be made of sterner stuff and the enthusiasm shown during and after the fray wasn't to be dampened on a foul afternoon, lashed by continuous wind and rain.

And it was playing into the teeth of that near gale that St Gerald's so vigilantly and doggedly guarded the fortifications of victory which had been built in the first half. The display of the defence in the second half was exceptional, with a quality performance from Alan Staunton at centre half back. David Hayes, Kevin Scahill and Adrian Hoban were others to feature prominently when the pressure was at it's most intense, while John Feeney, Mark Fahey when switched to full back, and goalkeeping hero Kieran McDonagh all ensured the battens were shut tight in that second half.

Niall Dunne, John Roughneen, Kevin Malone and Lyndon Reilly were the key players who made things happen when it was needed, while Paul O'Hara, Jamie Fitzmaurice, Kenneth Hyland and substitute and Farnan Harte were others who were not found wanting when the chips were down, and when battling qualities, rather than finesse, was the order of the day.

Those qualities simmered in the first half before bursting forth in the second period when the sleeves were finally rolled up by the Castlebar lads, who got a just reward for their hard work.. But given the strength of the wind it seemed unlikely that an interval lead of 0-6 to 0-3 would not be sufficient.

St Geralds should have been further ahead, and the fear at halftime was that they might well rue a number of chances, particularly from dead-ball situations. Kenneth Hyland gave them an early lead and Lyndon Reilly added to it in the 5th minute, but an excellent free by Noel Mahon pulled one back for the Tuam lads. An excellent point from Reilly pushed St. Gerald's two points clear, but another Mahon free had the lead down to the minimum but ten minutes from the interval Neill Dunne and Reilly had two very good points and it was the prolific Reilly who completed the St.. Gerald's first half scoring from a free

RESOLVE

But when Paul O'Hara squirmed his way through to knock over an early second half point St Gerald's appeared to strengthen their resolve and determination.

The introduction of Kevin Malone was to play a key role in helping St.. Gerald's weather that second half storm. His ball-carrying ability proved critical facing into the strong wind while the free-taking of Lyndon Reilly was also to prove the guiding force as was the foraging of Roughneen and the industry of Neill Dunne..

When Reilly landed a tricky free in the 37th minute to extend St. Gerald's lead to 0-8 to 0-3, an upset was imminent, and while St. Jarlath's still kept a foot in the door from an Enda Daly free from the hands in the 34th minute, but victory was sealed going into the last five minutes when Reilly landed two very good frees.

But not before St. Gerald's keeper Kieran McDonagh was forced to make a superb reflex save when he got to Chris Donlon's fisted effort which was heading for the top corner.

Donlon did land a score with a pointed free from the hands, but at that stage St. Gerald's knew they were securely and deservedly into the semi-final.

POINTS

St. Geralds: Kieran McDonagh, David Hayes, Adrian Hoban, Kevin Scahill, Anthony Dunne, Alan Staunton, John Feeney, Niall Dunne (0-1); Mark Fahey, Jamie Fitzmaurice, Lyndon Reilly (0-7- four frees); John Roughneen, Ken Hyland (0-1); Fintan McHale, Paul O'Hara (0-1).

Subs: K. Malone for N.Dunne; F. Harte for McHale.

St. Jarlaths: Neill Hannon, Brian Heneghan, Kieran Collins, Tomas King, Mal Flanagan, James Regan, Neill English, Enda Daly, Dave O'Shaughnessey (0-1); Eamon Walsh (0-1); Gavin Flood, Derek Curley, Dave Hanley, Noel Mahon (0-2); Chris Donlon (0-1).

Ref: M. Murphy (Ballinrobe).

Connaught Telegraph - News - February 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - February 1996