St James’ make it three titles in four years

Date Published: 03-Nov-2009

A NOW-familiar piece of silverware will adorn the trophy cabinet of the St. James’ GAA club for another year after their minor

A side recorded a merited four-point defeat of reigning champions Corofin in the County final on Saturday afternoon in Pearse Stadium.

Amazingly for a club still in its relative infancy, this was a third success at this grade infour years for the city side. The prestigious trophy now sits alongside the County Junior B title that was won last month, and could well have completed a hat-trick of success but for the intermediate side’s disappointing final defeat at the hands of Naomh Anna, Leitir Mór.

Two players who experienced the pain of that loss, Johnny Duane and Ronan O’Connell, produced magnificent displays within a dominant team performance on Saturday which ensured the 2009 vintage emulated the amalgamated Renmore and Mervue club’s triumphs in ‘06 (v Annaghdown) and ‘07 (v Monivea-Abbey).

Team manager Sean Conroy, whose son Paul featured in the first two wins and has since gone on to claim a place on the Galway senior side, agreed afterwards that Sean Glynn’s goal proved the turning point in the contest and expressed his delight at what was, unlike the first two, an unexpected achievement.

This was a battle of the ‘big two’ who have dominated the grade over the last three seasons and St. James’ performed heroics to prevent their North Galway rivals from completing the senior and minor double for the second year in a row.

“I had my own son on the first two and, to be honest with you, this is the best,” Conroy admitted. “When you beat Corofin, you beat the best. We all know they are the best club in Galway for years, at all age groups, so it is very satisfying to win it.”

Conroy also thanked selectors Martin Crowley and Mike Flannely for their sterling work over the years, as well as coach Terry O’Regan, whose detailed knowledge of many of the Corofin players as a teacher and coach at St. Jarlath’s College may have given St. James’ a vital edge in what was a closely-contested final.

For a full match report see page 31 of The Sentinel