Oranmore school on cloud nine

Date Published: 26-Mar-2009

THERE were no sign of big day nerves on either side at the Sportsground on Friday as Calasanctius College, Oranmore just edged out a gallant Summerhill College side in a gripping Connacht Tribiune Schools Junior Cup final.

The Sligo College twice held a commanding lead, but they were pegged back on both occasions by Oranmore who took the title for the first time in their history thanks to a try seven minutes from time scored by Diarmuid Moran and converted by the excellent Daithi Joyce.

Summerhill had caused a pretty big upset in reaching the final and were clearly determined to prove they were worthy of their place in the limelight. They certainly succeeded in that regards and took the
game to their much-fancied opponents from the outset and within three minutes of the kick off were ahead thanks to a try from captain Sean Donnelly.

The score came from an early penalty which Conor Keirns dispatched to the corner. From the subsequent well executed lineout by Karl Devanney, they attacked with a well worked moved down the blindside that caught the Oranmore defence napping.

Donnelly’s opportunist try wasn’t converted but Kieran Blake made amends with a later penalty and Summerhill had a mightily impressive eight point lead.

Oranmore slowly found their feet after that score and began to retain possession well, making big gains in the tight thanks to dynamic and powerful running from second rows Bobby Huxford and Joseph Caulfield and the constant threat of Daithi Joyce at out half, who…