Joy for Jarlath’s

Date Published: 13-Mar-2008

CONCERNS about St. Jarlath’s ability to acquit themselves in a tight corner situation were well and truly answered when they held out for a deserved three point victory in the Connacht Colleges A final at Ballinrobe on Sunday.

That is not to say that this was by any means an accomplished performance, but in the extremely difficult conditions and against a very determined opposition in St. Colman’s, they did extremely well.

Jarlath’s had come into this provincial decider on the back of two facile victories which, it was felt, was poor preparation against a side who had come through some gruelling encounters to reach this stage.

An often unpredictable wind coupled with very heavy ground conditions meant that this was never going to be a high scoring encounter — which probably suited St. Colman’s who thrive in the cut and thrust of a close match.

But in the end it was just a goal which separated the sides — that came on the half hour from Jarlath’s most dangerous forward, Danny Cummins, who took a Ronan Steede pass, rounded the goalie and eventually put it into the net.

It was one of those matches in which a goal was always going to speak volumes for a team and it gave Jarlath’s the edge as their Claremorris opposition were guilty of some terrible missed chances in the second half.

There were occasions when Colman’s made an impression into the Jarlath’s lead only for the Tuam side to keep them at arms length again and eventually time ran out on their challenge.

It has to be said that ………………….