Ciarán Leen’s goal ensures Presentation College Athenry retain Connacht Schools Senior hurling cup
It was a day for defenders in Duggan Park as Athenry defeated Loughrea. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
It was a day for defenders in Duggan Park, where just three of the starting 12 forwards between both teams succeeded in raising a flag in a physical and competitive Connacht senior final.
Jack Shaughnessy and Ciarán Leen did all they could to carry the load for their respective teams with 1-13 and 1-14, and it was Leen’s close range goal on 56 minutes that retained the John Ryan Cup for Presentation Athenry, sending them through to the Croke Cup semi-finals where they will meet the winners of St. Flannan’s and Kilkenny CBS.
St. Raphael’s will now meet St. Kieran’s College in the other quarter-final and they will have it all to do as Presentation College could easily have racked up a lot more scores here, only to be undone by 12 wides and a heroic goalkeeping performance from Oran Stratford.
Stratford couldn’t have done any more for his school throughout the game, producing a series of incredible saves to deny Leen, Anthony Poniard and Ronan Cahalan at various stages. It was needed because St. Raphael’s College struggled to compete in terms of creating the same number of chances.
They were far more efficient, with Shaughnessy flawless from placed balls, hitting 12 out of 12. Shaughnessy also gave the game a sensational start when he hammered the sliotar into the top right hand corner from 25 metres out to give St. Raphael’s a lead with two minutes to go.
Through a combination of Shaughnessy’s accuracy and Presentation’s failings on that front, they continued to lead through half-time (1-9 to 0-10) and right up to the 48th minute, when Leen flashed over his solitary point from play while attempting to hit the roof of the net.
The decision to switch 2025 Galway minor star Ronan Cahalan to the half-forward line proved crucial as he added to his two first half points with three excellent scores after the break, giving his team a cutting edge at centre forward.
A majestic Mikey Maher point and another from Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh nudged St. Raphael’s back in front but a route one long ball, catch and finish from Leen turned the game decisively in favour of the Athenry school, who have now won four of the last five provincial titles and will be considered strong contenders to go one step further than last year, when they narrowly missed out on All-Ireland glory.
C Leen 1-14 (0-10f, 0-2 s/l, 0-1 65), R Cahalan 0-5, R Burke 0-1, S Brady 0-1.
J Shaughnessy 1-13 (0-11f, 0-1 s/l), T Mac Cárthaigh 0-3, K Connaire 0-1, M Maher 0-1.
C Mannion; D Martyn (Clarinbridge), M Lewis (Killimordaly), E McDonagh; R Cahalan (Killimordaly), R Burke (Kilconieron), S Brady; R McGlynn, I Leen (Craughwell); N McCarthy, A McDonagh, C Hannon; N Kelly, C Leen (Craughwell), A Poniard.
M Coen (Clarinbridge) for Kelly (56), C Higgins for McCarthy (60+1).
O Stratford (Sarsfields); J Noone (Kilconieron), G Maher (Loughrea), M Maher (Loughrea); A Keane (Sarsfields), L Keary (Kilconieron), E Spellman (Kilconieron); K Connaire (Sarsfields), E Mulleady (Kilconieron); J Shaughnessy (Loughrea), T Mac Cárthaigh (Sarsfields), S Keane (Kilconieron); E Coleman (Loughrea), C Connaughton (Kilconieron), E McClearn (Loughrea).
E Cooney (Sarsfields) for Connaughton (41), D Dillon (Kilnadeema-Leitrim) for McClearn (54), C Keane (Kilconieron) for A Keane (57).
Kerrill Wade (Galway).
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