Pres Athenry come from a goal down to clinch second Connacht title in six years

Presentation College, Athenry 4

Rice College, Westport 1

Mike Rafferty in Athlone

What a joy to go to a match and witness players just go out and play. A game devoid of strict tactics, diving, and theatrics and where the participants let their abilities shine through and were not hindered by over coaching and some of the other ailments that blight the game today.

The outcome saw Presentation College Athenry crowned Connacht Senior Schools Boys champions when a smashing display that saw them clinch the title in Athlone on Thursday last and in the process repeat the feat of their success in 2016.

While the outcome was merited and well deserved as the Galway side were the better team, they had to do it the hard way as Rice College took an early lead and certainly posed a huge threat in the opening exchanges.

However as the game developed, so did the performance of Athenry and while they recovered to lead 3-1 at the break, their second-half display was even more worthy as they faced the considerable elements.

Mind you, they had a nervy opening spell as Rice College made the better start and took the lead on just four minutes. Conor Cannon was a huge threat throughout, and it was his cross that set up a fellow Sligo Rovers U-19 man, Adam Nugent, for a simple close-range header and a 1-0 advantage.

They went close to doubling their lead moments later, but a smart save by Dylan Quirke denied Cannon, before he drove the rebound against the near post. It was a let off for Athenry, but once they made the breakthrough on 28 minutes, they moved up a few gears and apart from one lapse, were in control of matters.

The equaliser was created by a great run from Daire McCarthy, who took on four players down the left before getting a deep cross in. The ball was sent back into the box by Callum Carroll and Galway United U-19 striker Tom Daly was left all alone to make it 1-1 with a simple tap-in.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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