Heneghan goal inspires St. Gerald's College fightback

St. Gerald’s College (Castlebar).........2-13

Ballinrobe Community School..... 0-15 (after extra-time)

AT a chilly Bekan on Wednesday afternoon St. Gerald’s snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the most spectacular fashion in the Connacht Colleges A semi-final, reports Patrick Hennelly.

Ballinrobe bossed the opening half of normal time and deservedly led at the break 0-7 to 0-2.

The Robesiders were very impressive during a lively first half, with the rangy Zack Feerick to the fore for the blue and white as he chipped in with three points, one of which was an awesome long-range effort from play.

However, aided by the influential Paddy Heneghan, St. Gerald’s gradually erased the once healthy Ballinrobe lead during a tense second period, and as the 50th minute drew near, there were just three points separating the sides, 0-10 to 0-7, in favour of the south Mayo outfit.

As the game entered injury-time, Ballinrobe’s Eoin Gilraine guided over what appeared to be the insurance score for the blue and white.

Crucially though, Ballinrobe switched off and this was punished in spectacular fashion at the other end of the pitch, when Paul Walsh somehow managed to offload possession to Paddy Heneghan and the latter’s sweet strike rustled the back of Luke Jennings’ net.

Suddenly Ballinrobe Community School were trailing, 1-9 to 0-11, but Feerick’s late free salvaged extra-time for his shell-shocked team-mates.

St. Gerald’s were much the better team during the second period of extra-time, and when Tomas Waldron’s long-range effort fortuitously ended up in the back of the Ballinrobe net on 72 minutes, the Castlebar outfit led 2-11 to 0-12.

The navy and blue closed out proceedings impressively, and no doubt they will watch with great interest Thursday night’s other semi-final encounter between Claremorris’ St. Colman’s, and Sligo’s Summerhill.

St. Gerald’s: J. Livingstone, J. Cunningham, J. Tuohy, C. McHale, T. Waldron (1-1), O. Tunney, D. McHugh, C. Redmond (0-2, 1 45’, 1f), N. Carter, E. Murphy, P. Heneghan (1-3, 0-2f), C. Donoghue, P. Walsh (0-2), R. Finnerty (0-1), E. Hughes.

Subs used: M. Fahy (0-1), P. Beirne (0-2), J. Walsh, B. O’Flaherty, M. Cunningham (0-1), D. Swierkowski.

Ballinrobe: L. Jennings, G. Mellette, S. Hession, P. Molloy, A. Flannery, M. Carr, G. O’Haire, E. Gilraine (0-2), E. Duffy, L. Moughty, C. O’Brien (0-1), K. Munroe (0-1), R. Hughes, Z. Feerick (0-8, 7f), C. O’Connell (0-3, 2f).

Subs used: J. Lydon, O. Coburn, D. Acton, J. Flanagan, D. Forde, J. Flanagan.

Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).