Athenry VS 22
Gallen Community School 14
Athenry Vocational School pulled off the surprise of this year’s Connacht Senior Rugby Cup when upsetting Gallen Community School from Ferbane in Monday’s quarter-final.
It is the first time Athenry, more noted as a hurling nursery, has advanced to a senior cup semi-final and, as an unseeded team, they did it via the development cup route, having advanced to that final.
Now, having disposed of the 2003 winners, they face a more difficult challenge in the semi-final where they meet the 2008 and 2008 champions Colaiste Iognaid.
However they will take huge heart from their display over Gallen, particularly in the second half having fallen behind twice.
The scoreless first half was tight with only a missed penalty apiece, but the game sprung to life after the break with Gallen grabbing a try on the counterattack. A spilled ball from Athenry provided Gallen with their chance. Darragh Corbett did the damage before being caught by Athenry’s Paul Flaherty, but Rory Doolin was on hand to supply winger John Dooley for a converted try.
Athenry answered almost immediately when a grubber kick from Kevin Divilly was grounded by Barry Keane, with Keelan Blade converting, but Gallen’s No 8 Dermot Higgins inspired a series of drives with Corbett diving over for a 14 - 7 lead.
Once again Athenry regrouped and started to dominate proceedings. Jamie Joyce, having moved from the second row to the wing, finished off a well deserved backline move, and when the industrious Blade took a quick tap penalty, centre Divilly had enough power to break the tackle and score Athenry’s third try. The nail in Gallen’s coffin came in injury time when Dean Keary broke through several tackles to grab the fourth.
Athenry Vocational School: P Flaherty; M Hession, K Divilly, C Lane, C Mannion; K Blade, G Kennedy; D Keary, D Fahy, M Burke; C Dolan, J Joyce; B Keane, D Maher, J Connolly. Replacement: D Hurney for Kennedy (38 ).
Gallen Community School: L Fox; R Doolin, D Egan, J Mulleady, B Gilligan; D Corbett, W Healy; G Dunne, N Quinn, T Dunican; J Dooley, K Connor; D Duignan, P Hennessy, D Higgins. Replacements: L Hottimer for Gilligan (53 ), L Claffey for Fox (68 ), C Healion for Dooley (68 ), W Keenan for Duignan (70 ).
Referee: Jason Craughwell (CBIRFU ).
