Roscommon CBS crowned All-Ireland champions for third time
Roscommon CBS captain, Eoghan Carthy, lifts the Paddy Drummond Cup to confirm his side as All-Ireland Colleges' B football champions following their four-point victory against Patrician High School, Carrickmacross. Picture: Roscommon CBS
Eoghan Carthy followed in the footsteps of Mark Healy and Ciarán Lawless by lifting the Paddy Drummond Cup as Roscommon CBS were crowned All-Ireland champions for the third time at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford.
An excellent first-half performance laid the foundation for another famous chapter in the Roscommon Town school’s fabled history as their supporters turned Glennon Brothers Pearse Park into a sea of red and white.
Eoghan Coll and Noel Moran’s side were 1-7 to 0-4 ahead at half time, and that buffer was enough, despite a late Patrician High School comeback.
Roscommon CBS dominated the middle third through Seamus Hussey and Seán McDermott, and with Cian Duggan as a focal point at full-forward, the scores began to flow.
The winners were 0-3 to 0-2 ahead when Owen Rogers’ brilliant pass picked out the marauding Colin Murray, and the St. Ciaran’s wing-back finished impressively for what turned out to be the only goal of the contest.
Four points approaching half time embellished CBS’ position further as Christopher Feerick, Colm Fitzgerald, Cian Duggan and Tom Biesty added scores to hand their side a six-point lead at the change of ends.
Corner-back Conor Meehan was immense for the Monaghan challengers throughout, but CBS still held a healthy lead entering the final ten minutes.
With nothing to lose, Patrician HS mounted a comeback with scores from Seán O’Brien, Fergal McEneaney, Peter Connolly (free), Shane O’Connor and the impressive Meehan.
Owen Rogers missed a great chance to seal the win, but it mattered little as Sam Hannon landed a long-range free as substitute Seamie Carty’s point deep into injury time confirmed CBS as champions for the third time and avenged the defeat to the same opponents in the national decider in 1997.
Top of the class once more, CBS players will walk into school on Monday morning as the best team in Ireland.
They’ll receive a welcome to remember, and one that will be richly deserved.
ROSCOMMON CBS: G. Staunton; I. Bikoi, M. Gillooly, M. Connaughton; C. Fitzgerald (0-1), E. Carthy, C. Murray (1-1); S. Hussey, S. McDermott; O. Rogers (0-1, a free), S. Hannon (0-3, all frees), A. Dolan; C. Feerick (0-2), C. Duggan (0-3), T. Biesty (0-1). Subs used: F. Kelly for Biesty (47 mins), S. Carthy (0-1) for Dolan (52 mins), C. Mulry for McDermott (60 mins), J. Farrell for Fitzgerald (60 mins).
PATRICIAN HS CARRICKMACROSS: D. O’Gorman; D. Farrelly, C. Mulligan, C. Meehan (0-2); C. Rafferty, J. McArdle (0-2), L. Poval; S. O’Connor (0-2), T. Maguire; M. Hanratty, F. McEneaney (0-2), H. Reilly (0-1); P. Connolly (0-1, a free), J. O’Farrell, C. Corrigan. Subs used: G. Murray (0-1) for Corrigan (half-time), S. O’Brien (0-1) for Hanratty (42 mins), J. McNally for O’Farrell (49 mins).
Referee: C. Dourneen (Cavan).
