A big second half comeback saw Marist College emerge victorious in the winner take all clash with CBS Roscommon today in Creggs and set up a Semi-Final tie against Summerhill College.

This game was originally set for the week of the 19th of January but a frozen pitch saw the game called off, and due to the nature of the three team group it meant CBS had almost a month between their two fixtures in the competition. 

The Roscommon school had control of the game for three quarters of the fixture but Marist showed their quality and fight in and three second half tries saw them run out comfortable winners in the end. 

Marist now move on to the last four of the competition and will be confident of a big upset as they face a Summerhill College side who went three from three in their group.

As mentioned, It was CBS Roscommon who took the early advantage, Michael McAteer going over the line after just ten minutes to give his side the lead but the score was unable to be converted. 

Aaron McAteer doubled the Roscommon side's try total with just under ten minutes left in the half, finding his way over in the corner leaving a tricky conversion which was again missed.

The kicking errors would leave Marist with some hope, and just before the break they blew the game wide open with a Thomas Cotton converted try as the clock ticked into the red leaving the Athlone side within three at the break.

It looked like the Roscommon side were unphased by the setback just before the break as they came out firing in the second half, and extended their lead back out to ten with a converted try just minutes into the second half. 

It was from here the game was flipped on its head though. Despite this game being a group game it really felt like a knockout fixture with what was at stake. 

Five minutes later Marist brought the game back to a one-penalty margin, Charlie O'Carroll going over for their second converted try of the game.

Marist now fully in control of the momentum were beginning to pin CBS back and it was not long until they gained their first lead of the match, James Clarke going over for their third try in the 52nd minute. The conversion was added leaving CBS now needing a try to retake the lead they had valiantly held up to this point. 

As CBS looked to get back into the game it was the Athlone school that started to drive the sword in putting an end to Roscommon Senior Cup hopes.

A second try for Charlie O'Caroll who added the extras along with a penalty in the 67th minute for Marist left a monumental task of overturning a 14-point deficit with seconds to go.

CBS through Jack Donnell did get over the line to bring it back to a one-score game and gain two bonus points but it was Marist who celebrated at the Final Whistle.

The Athlone school will be delighted with the fight and quality they showed in the second half to overcome this deficit. These characteristics will be vital to the team going into the final four and with their tails high you know they will believe they can now go on and win the cup.

For CBS Roscommon, this one will leave a bitter taste but they ran Sligo Grammar close in the first game and had this one in their hands so without a doubt when the wounds are healed they will know they gave a great account of themselves and will be back for more next year. 

A fantastic second-half display of rugby from both sides ended in Colaiste Iognaid (The Jes) defeating Garbally by a single point in Creggs this evening.

The game ebbed and flowed with both sides leading in the second half but a Bobby Power try and Calum Elwood kicking put distance between them and their opponents, however, a late converted try ensured a losing bonus point for Garbally.

The opening stages of the game were lively as both sides looked to take the momentum from the off.  Garbally had the majority of the possession early on in the Jes half of the field but the Iognaid side dealt with the pressure and drove Garbally back to halfway. 

At the ten-minute mark of the game, despite a number of penalties conceded by both sides, the game remained scoreless.

Similar to the first game of the day between Summerhill and Muredach’s, the conditions did not suit a kicking game at all with handling errors much more common.

The Jes would be very happy with the opening quarter of the match as stout defence kept Garbally at bay in the early period allowing them to find their way into the game and eventually take the lead.

It was on the 20th minute mark when Iognaid broke the deadlock, they held a penalty advantage and took the lead with Calum Elwood getting in behind the Garbally defence to touch down. Elwood was unable to add the extra points in tricky conditions. 

Garbally struggled to create anything to get back on level terms later in the half. The Jes were buoyant after taking the lead and would be by far the happier of the two sides going in with a five-point lead at the break. 

The Jes picked up a yellow card for an intentional knock-on early in the second half which Garbally hoped could give them some life.

To which it did, as Garbally took the lead with twenty minutes to go, Ronan Kelly going over the white line to level the game. Sean Power made no mistake from the dead ball and secured the extra points and the lead for his side shortly after. 

The Jes were not done yet, however, as a fantastic kick from Calum Elwood under seriously tough conditions put his side in the lead once more in a thrilling second half of rugby. 

Iognaid were pushing on after taking the lead, and shortly after Bobby Power went over the line to extend his sides lead to six, giving Elwood the chance to make it a two-score game coming into the final stages of the game. Elwood, full of confidence from the earlier penalty made no mistake making the score 15-7.

Garbally were not down and out yet and with a few minutes to go managed to get over for the second time in the match, and with Tierney making no mistake from the kick were now just one point behind but Garbally would have to settle for a losing BP as the Jes won out by a single point.