St. Nathy’s ‘raring to go’ for tilt at Connacht title

Like any run to a Connacht final, it has been a unique journey for everyone associated with St. Nathy’s College.

To chart the rise of this latest talented group of players to represent the Ballaghaderreen-based school, one need to go back to 2022. Even though that was the year they lost out in the Connacht Senior B final, the green shoots for the future were already budding.

The disappointment of that provincial final defeat against Garbally College (now Clonfert College) was felt across the school. But, just like life, sport is cyclical. It may not have garnered the same level of attention but much of this current crop helped the school claim the Connacht Juvenile B title four years ago.

That win has laid the foundations for this group’s progression to the school’s latest appearance in the Connacht Senior B final against St. Joseph’s College (The Bish) this Friday in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan (throw-in at 7 p.m.).

Colm Maye, a member of the St. Nathy’s management team alongside Ronan Brett and Fr. Paul Kivlehan, believes that triumph instilled belief within the group that they could help the West Roscommon school win a first Connacht Senior B title since 2018.

“It was nice. It is one that has been talked about. Whenever you win with a juvenile group, you always think this could be a good group coming through. They did really well to win that out. They had a couple of really good battles along the way in that competition.

“That group stayed together. Winning young bonded them and there is a great morale in the camp. They are all good friends, and they are willing to do what they have to do for each other. I would say that did have a huge influence on them in their school careers,” the Charlestown Sarsfields clubman noted.

It has been an unusual run to a Connacht final for St. Nathy’s. In the provincial competition, they have just played three games. Their opening contest was a victory over Friday’s opponents St. Joseph’s College.

But Maye feels that game two months ago will have little influence on this Friday evening’s proceedings.

“It was funny enough game when we played them. We both didn’t know whether Coláiste Bhaile Chláir (B) were in or out, or what was going on. It was hard to know how much was riding on that game really. It was our first day out and they had beaten Claregalway.

“We knew they were a good side but if you are to win this competition you have to beat whoever is put in front of you. They have a lot of good quality players. We are under no illusions. Their junior team got to the (Connacht) A final, so they have a power of good players all over the place,” he noted.

After that win over St. Joseph’s College and a facile 19-point victory against Coláiste na Gaeltachta at the quarter-final stage, St. Nathy’s came up against a fancied St. Attracta’s side in the final four.

Maye admits St. Nathy’s were chomping at the bit heading into that affair as St. Attracta’s had put last year’s Connacht finalists, Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, to the pin of their collar at the quarter-final stage.

The Charlestown Sarsfields clubman believes that same determination is emanating from the group, even though it is a hectic time for the exam students who will be completing their final mock examinations on the day of the Connacht final.

“Attracta’s had done really well against Strokestown. We had played Strokestown in a challenge and there was only a couple of points in it. The calibre of player they have is huge. Two of them (Eoin Murphy and Cian Towey) are from my own club, and I know what they are capable of.

“We knew it was going to be a huge task, but our lads loved it. They loved the challenge of it. We weren’t written off but we were underdogs going into it. That suited us down to the ground.

“Our lads were dying for that game, they could not wait to get going at it. You can kind of sense it again. They are raring to go for this game,” he concluded.

ST. NATHY’S PANEL: Declan Duffy (Kilmovee), Dean Casey (Ballinameen), Patrick Gaynor (Western Gaels), Conor Moriarty (Ballaghaderreen), Aaron Duffy (Ballaghaderreen), Seán Buckley (Ballaghaderreen), Oran Frain (Kilmovee), James Cassidy (Western Gaels), Patrick O’Dowd (Eastern Harps), Jack Greene (Éire Óg), Cathal McDonagh (Éire Óg), Adam Drury (Western Gaels), Michael McGarry (Western Gaels), James Kilroy (Ballaghaderreen), Patrick Regan (Kilmovee), Mark McDonnell (Éire Óg), Ronan McGarry (Western Gaels), Ryan McGarry (Western Gaels), James Puncheon (Ballaghaderreen), Dylan Giblin (Western Gaels), Mathew Naughton (Ballaghaderreen), Ronan Coleman (Ballaghaderreen), Paudi Gilligan (Ballinameen), Seán Regan (Éire Óg), Ryan O’Suillivan (Ballaghaderreen), Harry Dooney (Ballghaderreen), Cathal Moriarty (Ballaghaderreen), Cian Gallagher (Western Gaels), Conor Hunt (Western Gaels), Luke Freyne (Western Gaels), Noel Regan (Ballaghaderreen), Noah Gill (Western Gaels), Micheal McTeigue (Ballinameen), PJ Cregg (Western Gaels), Jake Jackson (Eastern Harps), Micheál Greene (Éire Óg).