Marist College storm to sixth junior title

Marist College 25 Garbally College 0: Marist College capped an impressive season with a comfortable win over Garbally in the Connacht Schools Junior Cup final at The Sportsground. Two tries each for Liam Winnett and Mattie Nally sealed the win, Marist’s sixth title and their first since 2013.

Marist College coach Donal Scannell paid tribute to his players: “Things went our way, the boys have trained very hard all year.

“And it all paid off in the finish and we are delighted with the win. It all came to fruition,” he said.

Marist were 10-0 up at half-time but that could have been more had they capitalised on their physical dominance. Winnett, a first cousin of Robbie Henshaw, went close on a number of occasions while Cathal O’Grady also spurned a chance.

But Tom O’Carroll slotted a third-minute penalty, and Nally cut through the Garbally defence for his first try six minutes later. O’Carroll’s conversion made it 10-0.

Marist pushed on after half-time and Winnett got his opening try in the 12th minute of the second half. Nally’s second effort put it beyond doubt with Winnett crashing over again late on.

Scorers for Marist:

Tries: M Nally (2), L Winnett (2); Conversion: T O’Carroll; Penalty: O’Carroll.

MARIST COLLEGE:

A Murtagh; D Mulvihill, M Nally, R Dempsey, C Larkin; C Sugrue, T O’Carroll; C O’Grady, D Browne, J Downes; M Tallon, J Scouler; F Galvin, M O’Neill, L Winnett.

Replacements:

P Ryan for Browne (51), C Daly for O’Grady (61), L McFarlane for Mulvihill (62), R Lowe for Tallon (63), N O’Neill for Larkin (64).

GARBALLY COLLEGE:

C Treacey; N Horan, S Jennings, S O’Carroll, R Parker; S Grenham, S Mannion; P Reddy, P Grehan, J Dempsey; O Dooley, C Clark; O McCormack, R Donnellan, M Comerford.

Replacements:

S Horkan for Grenham (44 mins), J Carry for Reddy (48-49), J Noone for Clark (54), M Smyth for Mannion (54), J Coughlan for Parker (54).

Referee:

Peter Gaughan.