Marist craft dethrones Sligo Grammar in Connacht thriller

Andrew Henson ran in his second try with a little over a minute remaining to secure the Athlone school’s first senior cup title since 2013.

Marist College celebrate with the cup. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Connacht Schools Senior Cup Final: Marist College 33 Sligo Grammar School 29

Marist College dethroned three-in-a-row Connacht Senior Cup champions Sligo Grammar School in heart-stopping fashion this afternoon in Ballina, with Andrew Henson running in his second try with a little over a minute remaining to secure the Athlone school’s first senior cup title since 2013.

This contest was billed as a battle between the flair and craft of the Marist backline up against the power of the Sligo Grammar pack, and that was exactly how it played out in bright sunshine in north Mayo.

Thomas Cotton and Kyle Mahon dotted down early tries for the midlanders, the latter running in from 80 metres out after outhalf Charlie O’Carroll wrestled the ball into his possession at the end of a long spell of intense Sligo Grammar possession in front of their posts.

Sligo didn’t look to spread the ball beyond inside centre Mark Tempany too often, instead trusting in their pack, led by Ireland international Diarmaid O’Connell, to carry the fight to the Marist.

Sligo Grammar’s Diarmaid O'Connell on the attack

Despite enjoying plenty of possession in the second quarter, a penalty from Tempany was all that Sligo Grammar took from that spell, but they took full advantage of a couple of Marist handling errors after the interval, sneaking into a 15-14 lead when Cathal Moffatt and O’Connell drove over from close range.

That lead was short-lived, with Charlie O’Carroll running back a kick on the next play and chipping through for Thomas Cotton to score, and Sligo Grammar might have felt that it wasn’t to be their day when former Westmeath minor football captain Andrew Henson was next to score despite shouts from the Grammar School bench for a knock-on in the lead up to the score.

But they hung in and mounted one last effort, with O’Connell and Moffatt taking the ball up to the Marist line to set up Alistair Hewson’s score. Bobby Hanrahan turned over a Marist runner in the tackle on the next possession, and after a couple of tap and go penalties, it was Moffatt who got across the whitewash with five minutes remaining.

Marist College celebrate Pic: Morgan Treacy, Inpho

Tempany’s pressure conversion made it 29-26, but Marist didn’t look to engineer an equalising kick, instead trusting in their talented back division to find a way through. Once again it was Cotton who provided the inspiration, breaking two tackles on the left sideline before setting up Henson for a sensational finish.

Scorers for Marist College: T Cotton (2), K Mahon, A Henson (2) tries, C O’Carroll four conversions 

Sligo Grammar School: C Moffatt (2), D O’Connell, Alistair Hewson tries; M Tempany one pen, three cons

MARIST COLLEGE: A Cotton; K Mahon, A Henson, T Cotton, T Bourke; C O’Carroll, C Dowling; H Hannon, E McMickan, C West; P Bourke, K Byrne; K Blessing, O O’Donoghue, R Colleran.

Replacements: P Finan for P Bourke (half-time), O Egan for Dowling (44), M Turner for Hannon (44), Hannon for Blessing (51), Blessing for A Cotton (65).

SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL: B Lawler-Kerr; J Gimena, B Hanrahan, M Tempany, Andrew Hewson; B O’Connor, A Ryan; A Deegan, W Draper, C Moffatt; B Bamber, J Bosomtwe; K Mojekwu, Alistair Hewson, D O’Connell.

Replacements: L O’Neill Markey for Andrew Hewson (6), J Winters O’Donnell for Bosomtwe (48), Bosomtwe for Deegan (54).

Referee: Cathal Roddy.