A replay will be needed to determine a winner in both the Junior A and Senior A Connacht Schools League Finals, as nothing could separate Marist College and Sligo Grammar in the end.
Sligo Grammar (2T) 12-12 Marist College (0T), Junior A Final, Creggs RFC
A late try from Ronan Mullan salvaged a draw for Sligo Grammar, Ollie Isherwood converted the try and despite both knocking on the door late on they will have to meet again in the new year.
Andrew Cotton struck home a penalty after six minutes to give Marist the lead. Grammar replied well and a clever short lineout move saw Aron Martin throw to the front of the lineout and a burst of speed from Alastair Hewsonsaw the Number 8 over for the opening try. Grammar ahead 5-3 after eight minutes following the missed conversion.
Cotton had a deadly accurate boot from the tee and he found his range on two further occasions in the opening half to stretch out a 9-5 lead for Marist at the interval. Into the second period he remained accurate as his fourth penalty put seven between the teams.
Grammar kept plucking away and after some solid drives from closer range they got a just reward for some solid pressure and crossed for their second try. Isherwood converted and in the dying minutes the tempo remained but neither team could notch a late score in a cracking contest.
Marist College (3T) 22-22 (4T) Sligo Grammar , Senior A Final, Creggs RFC
A late try from Kyle Mahon converted by Charlie O’Carroll forced a replay in the senior decider as Marist battled hard to overturn a 22-15 deficit in the dying minutes.
Grammar burst out of the blocks better and after six minutes, Dara Holmes drove down the right channel and powered his way through the tackles for the opening try of the contest. The conversion ent wide but before the quarter of an hour mark Jack Deegan had space to finish in the same area as Holmes for their second score, again Earl Norris failed to convert this one striking the right upright,
Sligo had their tails up leading 10-0, Marist had however been knocking on the door and two breaks for Grammar certainly was the main difference. Marist responded after 21 minutes, Lorcan McCormack going down the left touchline and crossing in the corner for the Athlone side’s opening try.
Five between the teams after that score and Marist certainly found their feet and used that score as a catalyst for the remainder of the half. Thomas Cotton was quick as a flash to latch onto a loose pass in the Grammar attack, the centre breaching the gap and pumping the legs to touch down under the posts on the half hour mark. A beautiful intercept try converted by O’Carroll, he struck a penalty soon after for a 15-10 lead for marist at the break.
Whatever was said to Grammar at a short interval certainly inspired them to kick on in the second half. With 42 minutes elapsed Gerard Murtagh used his power and pace to burst through the Marist rearguard to add a third try for the current holders chasing a third success in a row. Norris restored the lead from the tee.
Leading by a margin of just two points, a stunning drive on the left channel from Liam McNamee saw Grammar notch a fourth try after 53 minutes. Norris again missed the conversion but with a seven point cushion Grammar were on top.
Possession exchanged hands in the final minutes of the contest, Sligo grammar coughed up the ball and Marist saw an opportunity, Kyle Mahon raced onto a clearance kick and having out the afterburners on he made no mistake touching down. The coolest man in Creggs was O’Carroll, he showed composure to convert the try and force another incredible meeting between these two in the new year.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.