Corrib boys make history with capture of U-17 Cup

Corrib Water Polo club’s U-17 Boys made history recently when winning the Irish Cup in Belfast for the 10th time.

The side went to the Belfast tournament well prepared and in a confident mood, bidding to add the U-17 national title to the U-19 Cup which the club won in December.

Coached by Kristin Sunjic and Padraig Smyth, their first game saw them record a comfortable 17-4 win over Drogheda. Mark O’Connor, back in the water recently from an excellent season with Galwegians U-17s, contributed six goals. Paddy Cunningham Smyth – at 12 years of age, one of the youngest players in the tournament – also contributed with an impressive goal; while Luka Sunjic, Austin Murphy and Shay McGovern also contributed to the impressive score line.

The stout defence of captain Fiach O’Múrchú and Rory Lally stemmed the Drogheda attack; while Conor McHugh worked tirelessly to ensure good service to the scoring players on the Corrib team.

Their second group game saw them face a young Cathal Brugha side that took the lead with an early goal, but Corrib responded with ruthless efficiency. Goals from Luka Sunjic, Rhys Commons, and Austin Murphy saw them end the first quarter 7-1 ahead.

In the second quarter, coach Sunjic gave some of the U-15 players time in the water and they repaid his faith with goals from Sean Clarke, Colm Shaughnessy, McGovern and Paddy Cunningham Smyth.

Cathal Brugha clawed back some goals in the second-half, however the superior tactics of the Corrib coaches and team saw the game ended on a score line of 14-8 to Corrib.

Corrib faced their old rivals Clonard in their final group game, who were buoyed by their home support in the impressive gallery at the new Lisnasharragh pool complex.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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