Athenry seal Connacht title

CRAIG KENNEDY powered his Athenry VS to the Connacht Vocational Schools SAFC title in Garrymore. Kennedy hit 1-3 and was their chief creator, setting up their first goal after 21 minutes as Dylan Murphy finished to the net (1-2 to 0-2).

A minute later Kennedy fired an unstoppable shot past Martin Corcoran to open a six-point lead. The Castlebar lads hit back with points from Jamie Ivers, Conor Finnerty and Diarmuid O’Connor to trail 2-4 to 0-5 at the break. Athenry tagged on two frees after the restart, before Kennedy set up Michael Hession for Athenry’s third goal. Midway through the half Athenry’s Kieran Forde was shown a second yellow and when Gary Concannon converted a penalty, a comeback looked on. But a Flaherty free and Caolin Blade point sealed the victory.

Scorers for Athenry VS: C Kennedy (1-3); M Hession (1-2, 2fs); P Flaherty (0-3, 2fs); D Murphy (1-0); K Forde (0-1); C Blade (0-1).

Scorers for Davitt College: G Concannon (1-1, 1-0pen); C Finnerty (0-2, 1f); J Ivers (0-1); D O’Connor (0-1).

ATHENRY VS: J Joyce; S Linnane, K Killilea, P Prendergast; B Melia, D Maher, K Divilly; C Blade, P Flaherty; C Kennedy, M Hession, K Forde; C Mannion, B Keane, D Murphy.

DAVITT COLL: M Corcoran; S Staunton, J Geraghty, D Staunton; D O’Connot, B Murphy, R Fadden; D Flannery, S Concannon; J Ivers, P Colleran, G Ralph; C Finnerty; G Concannon, R Neary.

Subs: P Corcoran for Ralph, h-t; K Mulchrone for Neary, h-t; B Burke for Colleran, 55; E Tuffy for O’Connor, 57.

Referee: John Glavey (Mayo).