” GALLEN CS BEAT COLAISTE IOGNAID TO WIN FIRST EVER JUNIOR
RUGBY FINAL” GALLEN CS 13 COLAISTE IOGNAID 7
Gallen CS made history by winning their first ever Junior Rugby Schools title by virtue of this deserved but hard earned win over a resilient Jez side in a match played in the Galway Sports grounds on Wednesday of last week. Gallen’s victory sees them atone for their loss in the 2008 final and the victory provides a great boost for rugby in the school. Gallen led 8-0 at half time and had to withstand a serious onslaught from a Jez team who wouldn’t give up. Ryan Heavin’s excellent try after a well worked build up put the icing on the cake before Gallen defended doggedly and held off the Jez challenge to emerge victorious 13-7. Gallen had proved their worth before Christmas by giving old foes Marist a run for their money and the fact that the Marist went on to win the Junior Cup later in the afternoon helped to frank the Gallen performance as one of note. Gallen arrived in the final by virtue of beating Loughrea [48-10] and Gort 42-10 in group games before overcoming Roscommon CBS 10-3 in the semi-final. Hopes were high for Conor Galvin’s troops as they made their way westward and they certainly laid down a marker in the opening few minutes with some excellent passing rugby. Tom Corcoran , the “Jamie Heaslip” of Gallen made a great line break and brought play up to the Jez “22”,Gallen went through the phases before out half Colin Kenny crashed through the Jez rear-guard for a try. Gallen 5 Jez 0 and while Gallen missed the conversion, they were in the ascendancy. Jez dug deep and began to make inroads. A Jez chip and chase could have proved dangerous for Gallen CS but Gallen full back Ryan Heavin dealt with the danger well. Gallen gained confidence from their ability to withstand the Jez pressure and went on the offensive again. Jez were penalised for an infringement and Colin Kenny slotted over the resultant penalty to give Gallen an 8-0 lead at the break.
The second half saw the Jez come roaring back into the game. If a feature of the first half was Gallen’ s attacking play , the second half saw the Ferbane lads excellent in defence where they tackled as if their lives depended on it. Tackles by Jarlath Stevenson and Brian mc Evoy were noteworthy of mention as Gallen were holding a Jez team at bay and keeping their try line from being crossed. Eventually , the Jez pressure told when flanker James Colohan scored a try under the posts which was converted by out half Morgan Codyre. Gallen 8 Jez 7 , game on , with the destiny of the Development Cup in the melting pot.
It needed something special to finally see off the brave Jez challenge which was led by number 8 Conor Greaney. Gallen provided that magic moment when Jack ” Paul o Connell” Clancy “robbed “a Jez line out ball , the ball was superbly moved through the backs before Brian McEvoy’s super pass found Gallen CS’s own Ryan Heavin and with the pace of a Tommy Bowe , Ryan touched down in the corner for a try. Gallen missed the conversion.
Jez pressed forward well aware that a converted try could win them the match but Gallen held out to record a famous and well merited victory.
For Gallen Dean Guinan , Darren Buckley and captain Conor Kelly were solid in the front row in both tight and loose , Alex Kearns and Michael o Shea formed a solid second row partnership and
in the back row , flankers Jack Clancy and Jack Quinn worked well with number 8 Tom Corcoran. Kyle Higgins directed his forwards in Conor Murray like fashion , Colin Kenny was Paddy Jackson , Ian Madigan and Jonathan Sexton rolled into one as he
was calmness personified at out half.
Wingers Jarlath Stevenson and Conor Owens played their part as did the tenacious centre pairing of Anthony Seery and Brian mc Evoy whose motto was ” Jez , you shall not get past us !”. Ryan Heavin’s strong and skilful running always carried a direct threat . Hugh mc Lynn , Donal Ryan , Diarmuid Guinan , Oisin Daly , Adrian Hynes and Dylan mc Donagh also played their part during the competition.
TEAM AND SCORERS – Ryan Heavin[1t] , Conor Owens , Brian mc Evoy
, Anthony Seery , Jarlath Stevenson, Colin Kenny[ 1t , 1p],
Kyle Higgins , Dean Guinan , Darren Buckley , Conor Kelly , Alex
Kearns, Michael o Shea , Jack Quinn , Jack Clancy and Tom Corcoran.
SUBS- Donal Ryan , Hugh mc Lynn, Dylan mc Donagh , Adrian Hynes,
Diarmuid Guinan and Oisin Daly.
COLAISTE IOGNAID- Eamon Kelly, Paul Butler , Ryan Hunt, William
Finnerty, Mark Trainor, Morgan Codyre[1c], Fiachra o Griofa,
Brendan mc Shane, Conall Fallon , Dara o Toole, David Dillon ,
M Higgins, Fionn Durkan, James Colohan[1t] and Conor Greaney.”
KINGDOM COMES TO FAITHFUL AS COLM COOPER VISITS GALLEN CS TO PROMOTE AIB ” BUILD A BANK ” CHALLENGE”
Gallen CS was honoured last week with a visit from Kerry football legend Colm Cooper . Colm visited in his capacity as AIB representative as he is very much involved in the AIB ” Build a Bank” Challenge where schools meet the challenge of setting up and operating a financial institution. Gallen CS has qualified for the National Build a Bank final which will be held in the RDS on April 17th. Gallen were among 4 teams out of 44 who qualified from
the Regional Finals. Thanks to Mrs Sandra McGrath for all her hard work with our “Build a Bank team. Gallen CS wishes to thank all those at AIB who have worked so hard and who have given of their time to give our students a great learning and business experience which will help them manage money in today’s society.
Colm arrived in our school at 1030 am where he was welcomed by our School in an Assembly. Mr Irwin welcomed him and Colm then greeted the victorious School Junior Rugby team who had triumphed in the Connacht Final the day before. Colm also greeted our Build a Bank Team and their teacher Mrs McGrath. Colm was presented
with a Gallen CS football jersey by Jack Egan a TY student who is a member of our Junior Football Team who has reached the All Ireland semi-final.
Colm spoke about how school was a great experience for him and how the skills he learned there such as discipline , team work and leadership have stood him in good stead. Colm equated studying for an exam with training and said that training is like an exam, you only get out of something what you put into it. Colm rounded off his speech by complimenting Gallen C.S. on its facilities
before concluding by wishing the junior football team the best of luck in the All Ireland semi-final.
Colm then had a meet and greet with students and staff before taking our junior football team for a training session which proved to be an enjoyable and invaluable learning experience for our young footballers.
