Mezzino Connacht Post Primary Schools Senior “A” Final

Summerhill College       0-16

Coláiste Bhaile Chláir    1-9

Kevin Egan reports from the Connacht Centre of Excellence

As they have done all year long in big games, Summerhill College struggled through the first half of this afternoon’s Mezzino Connacht Schools Senior “A” Final, but exploded into life after half-time, and that was enough to overpower Coláiste Bhaile Chláir and secure a ninth senior title, their first Aonghus Murphy Memorial Cup since 2016.

Undoubtedly the breeze was a factor in Coláiste Bhaile Chláir racking up a four-point half-time lead, though so too was the brilliance of corner forward Jack Mullen, who scored 1-3 for the side managed by Kieran Murphy and Muarice Sheridan.

Just seven minutes had elapsed when he took a pass from Jack Lonergan and slipped a low shot into the Summerhill net, and he followed up with some exceptional point, punctuated by a lovely finish from team captain Luc O’Connor midway through the half, as they moved 1-5 to 0-4 in front.

Eli Rooney up front, James Donlon at centre back and Dillon Walsh at midfield all worked hard for Summerhill, but in general their attack lacked punch, and only for a series of missed chances for the Claregalway students – four wides and four shots dropped short – they could have been out of sight.

Once the sides changed ends however, Summerhill were transformed. A quickfire burst of scores from Mark McDaniel, Walsh, Donlon and Rooney drew them level, and while Gerard O’Riordan made an impact off the bench for Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, with Jack Mullen continuing to be a threat, Summerhill’s power and athleticism through the centre was beginning to become a dominant theme in the game.

Rooney set up his St. Mary’s club colleague Ronan Niland for another levelling score after 19 minutes of the second half, making it 0-11 to 1-8, and this time around, Summerhill kicked on with a string of points.

Rooney, Niland (two frees) and McDaniel pushed the lead out to four points, leaving the Galway school chasing a goal. Outstanding work from O’Connor opened up a chance for Jack Lonergan, but the Claregalway clubman snatched at his shot, blazing it high and wide from the 13 metre line. Daniel Fitzmaurice brought the gap back to three to keep tensions high, but great work from Donlon set up one last chance for Rooney, and a typically stylish finish from the full forward proved to be the insurance score that confirmed their win, and set up a Hogan Cup semi-final clash with this afternoon’s Munster winners, St. Brendan’s of Killarney.

Scorers for Summerhill College: Ronan Niland 0-6 (0-5f), Eli Rooney 0-4 (0-2f), Dillon Walsh and Mark McDaniel 0-2 each, James Donlon (0-1f) and Shea O’Neill 0-1 each.

Scorers for Coláiste Bhaile Chláir: Jack Mullen 1-5 (0-2f), Luc O’Connor 0-2, Daithí Kilcommins and Daniel Fitzmaurice 0-1 each.

Summerhill College: Donnchadh O’Brien, Rían O’Callaghan, Eamon Keane, Ronan O’Hehir, Robert O’Kelly-Lynch, James Donlon, Joe Campbell, Dillon Walsh, Paul O’Brien, Michael Carroll, Ronan Niland, Mark McDaniel, Shea O’Neill, Eli Rooney, Gavin Lynch.

Subs: Jamie Walsh for Carroll (47), Connor Flynn for Lynch (50).

Coláiste Bhaile Chláir: Eamon McGrath, Eoin Geraghty, Cian Hanley, Luc O’Connor, Olan Kelly, Cormac Greaney, Ryan Flaherty, Daithí Kilcommins, Cillian Trayers, Cian Murphy, Jack Lonergan, Owen Morgan, Jack Mullen, Jack Ramsay, Stephen Curley.

Subs: Eanna Monaghan for Ramsay (h-t), Gerard O’Riordan for Murphy (43), Daniel Fitzmaurice for Morgan (56).

Referee: John Glavey (Mayo).