RUGBY SEMI-FINALS

It was mixed news for our rugby squads in their Connacht Cup semi-finals with our seniors suffering a heart-breaking 6-0 loss to the Jes in Galway and our Juniors enjoying an emphatic 40-3 win over Roscommon CBS in the Marist grounds.

The seniors came out the wrong side of a bruising encounter with the Jes of Galway in the heavy back pitch in the Sportsground. A cross-field wind militated against flowing rugby. In these conditions with two committed teams, there was never going to be much in it. Unfortunately for our men they failed to avail of the couple of try-scoring opportunities that fell their way.

Such are the small margins at this level, but the squad can be proud of their campaign. It was a campaign that saw many players get their first taste of top-flight school’s rugby and that will stand to them next year. On the day captain Luke Carty led his troops well and second-row Brian Collins and winger Kristian Joncher were prominent. Thanks to Mr. Loftus and Darrin Classin for their hard work in preparing this team all year. Thanks too to the players for their commitment.

The Juniors showed little sign of big game nerves as they ran in six tries to set up a final date with Garbally in the Galway Sportsground next Wednesday. Flankers Fergus Galvin and Matthias O’Neill, who once again added to his remarkable try-scoring record, and number eight, Liam Winnett, provided the power at the centre of this win. The elusive Mattie Nally contributed two tries in a man-of-the-match display. Further tries were added by Liam ‘Blender’ Winnet, Ciaran Sugrue, and Conor Larkin with Rory Dempsey (two), Adam Murtagh (two), and Tom O’Carroll adding one. O’Carroll and replacement hooker, Patrick Ryan, displayed the squad’s strength in-depth as they shone as replacements. Mr. Scannell has really polished up these diamonds into a sparkling side and the school looks forward to the cup final next Wednesday.