St James won their third West Board final in four years last Saturday at Pearse Stadium when they comprehensively defeated Michéal Breathnach’s in the SuperValu minor final by seven points.
The city side led for the whole game and got off to a blistering start to lead by three points after only five minutes.
They led by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time, although it could have been more had they not missed some good goal opportunities.
The Connemara side, managed by Ciaran Breathnach, fought back well and narrowed the gap to two before Sean Conroy’s charges banged over five unanswered points to collect the silverware.
St James played wing-forward Shane Coughlan as an extra defender and that tactic proved effective as it closed up the spaces and kept scoring chances to a minimum.
Coughlan was well supported by the impressive duo of Johnny Duane and Michael Elwood at midfield and the two man full-forward line of Philip Ryan and team captain Ronan O’Connell.
Michéal Breathnachs will be disappointed their performance did not match the drawn game. Players like Peadar Óg Ó Griofa and Fiach Ó Bearra did their best, but on the day they can have few complaints.
St James will face Corofin in the county final.
Athenry win minor B county football final
In the minor B final also played at Pearse Stadium last Saturday, Athenry defeated Naomh Anna Leitir Mór.
The successful Athenry management team consisted of Martin Whyte (bainisteoir ), and his selectors were Bernard Ryan, Danny Kelly and Padraig O’ Reilly.
