County Roscommon school aiming to end 40 year wait for Connacht Junior A title

CBS Roscommon will be aiming to end a 40 year wait when they come up against St. Jarlath’s College Tuam in the Connacht Post Primary Schools Junior A football final today, Wednesday, in Bekan at 12.30 p.m..

The Roscommon side last claimed this title in 1984 when they overcame the school they will face this Wednesday. On that occasion they prevailed 0-7 to 0-4 to capture their second title at this grade in three years.

In ’84, CBS Roscommon had overcome Summerhill College of Sligo in the semi final before they enacted revenge on St. Jarlath’s after losing the final to the same opposition 12 months prior. Sean Conboy, Vincent Glennon and Kevin O’Connor all kicked crucial scores to help CBS Roscommon to what the Roscommon Herald’s match report stated was a “sweet victory.” That year was highly successful for CBS Roscommon as they also claimed the Connacht Colleges Junior hurling championship, defeating St. Raphael’s College 4-17 to 1-7 in the decider.

Back in ’82, CBS Roscommon managed to secure another double as they claimed the Connacht Junior and Juvenile titles.

In the Junior decider, they overcame what the Roscommon Herald described as a “hotly fancied” St. Colman’s Claremorris side 2-10 to 0-8.

Despite Sean Sweeney helping the Mayo side to a strong early start, CBS Roscommon moved Noel Reilly to centre back with the move tightening their rearguard.

Sean McNeill was “making a strong impression at midfield” for CBS Roscommon while he also bagged 1-4 to help CBS Roscommon to an eight point triumph. The school’s Juvenile footballers defeated Tuam C.B.S. 2-8 to 1-1 on the same day to help CBS Roscommon claim two of the three major Connacht titles on offer in 1982.

History is repeating itself to an extent with this CBS Roscommon’s second final at this grade in three years. However, they lost out to St. Gerald’s of Castlebar in the 2022 decider but gained a measure of revenge when defeating the same side this year by a point following an epic semi final that was decided after extra time.

CBS Roscommon, who are managed by Seamus Heneghan and Paul Sweeney, overcame Summerhill College and St. Colman’s, Claremorris, in the group stages of this year’s competition before defeating Ballinrobe Community School by a point in their quarter final.

They will face a St. Jarlath’s outfit who overcame Coláiste Bhaile Chláir 2-10 to 1-6 in their Connacht semi final.

After overcoming all would be challengers to date, CBS Roscommon have a golden opportunity to pen another chapter in their footballing history.