Scoil Mhuire dig deep to reach Connacht final following dramatic penalty shootout
The Scoil Mhuire players celebrate their famous Connacht Post Primary Schools' B Football Championship semi-final triumph following a penalty shootout against Ballyhaunis Community School at Enfield on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, called on all their character and courage to advance to this season’s Connacht Post Primary Schools’ Senior B Football Championship final following a dramatic semi-final against Ballyhaunis Community School at Enfield on Wednesday afternoon.
The East Roscommon school — managed by Darragh Fitzgerald and coached by Roscommon senior footballer and All-Star, Enda Smith — prevailed 4-3 on penalties after the teams finished 1-12 apiece at the end of extra time.
Even though Scoil Mhuire forward, Cillian Harrington, was denied with his side’s first penalty, the Strokestown school’s goalkeeper, Cillian Hussey, saved Ballyhaunis’ third penalty.
Dominik Grzegorski scored his spot kick to make it 4-3, and when Ballyhaunis’ fifth penalty from Derry Óg Cox hit the bottom of the post, Scoil Mhuire could start celebrating one of the most famous wins in the school's history.
It was destined to be a tight contest from the opening whistle, and it took a fantastic save from Hussey to keep Ballyhaunis at bay in the first quarter.
Indeed, there was no score in the opening 15 minutes. Then Stephen Tighe got the ball rolling from a free before a couple of outstanding scores from Cathal Enright made it 0-4 to 0-2 in Scoil Mhuire’s favour at the break.
When Tadhg Rogers stretched that advantage to three points, it looked like a big lead in the context of the game but Ballyhaunis CS subsequently hit a purple patch, hitting the next four scores, including one from substitute Shane Gallagher from Éire Óg GAA Club.
The East Mayo school held a 0-9 to 0-7 lead going into stoppage time, but a superb long-range free from Tristan Hoey reduced the arrears.
With Ballyhaunis CS screaming for a black card, Conor Grogan’s quickly-taken free went wide to give Scoil Mhuire a reprieve, and they took it when Tighe restored parity from a free, 0-9 apiece.
A goal from Shane Gallagher looked to be a decisive blow in Ballyhaunis’ favour but Jamie Connellan’s free left three between them going into injury time at the end of extra time.
Once again, Scoil Mhuire dug deep and a superb block by Darragh Devaney ignited a move, which saw Jamie Connellan’s deflected shot find the net to send the game to penalties.
Cue more drama and, ultimately, a Scoil Mhuire victory to keep hopes of an all-Roscommon final alive when Roscommon CBS meet Calasanctius College, Oranmore, in the other semi-final on Friday afternoon (weather permitting).
