Mayo college congratulated on winning national soccer title

A Mayo TD has extended his congratulations to Rice College, Westport, on their tremendous victory today in the 2023 FAI Schools Tom Ticher Junior (Under-17) National Cup final against St. Mary's CBS, Enniscorthy, in Athlone.

Deputy Michael Ring stated: “This is a superb achievement.

"The team showed depth and resilience as they came back from a scoreline of 2-0 down to win by 3-2.

“I commend the players, the panel, the coaches, the teachers, parents and all who supported the team in bringing them to this wonderful day.

“They are tremendous ambassadors for their school and they have brought great joy to their school and the larger Westport community."

Trailing two-nil at half-time, the Connacht champions produced a stunning comeback to secure victory at the Athlone Town Stadium, the winning goal arriving three minutes from the end of normal time courtesy of a super strike by Cillian McGing.

McGing had a goal disallowed on 13 minutes and missed another chance on 28 minutes, and St. Mary's made Rice College pay dearly with two goals before the break.

Robert Cahill directed a Darragh Harris free kick into the Rice net to open the scoring, and Colin Ivers doubled the Wexford school's lead on the stroke of half-time (40 minutes per half) following another free kick delivery by Harris.

It was a big setback for Rice College but they got the perfect tonic just three minutes into the new half when Dan O'Malley pulled a goal back.

The Westport lads equalised courtesy of Jack Dawson on 67 minutes, and they stunned their opponents just 10 minutes later when McGing fired into a rocket of a shot to plunder the lead.

St. Mary's, who had Harris sent off two minutes into time added on, were unable to find an equaliser, leaving Rice College national champions on a memorable day for the Westport school.