TWO COLLEGES FOOTBALL TITLES FOR ST. JARLATH’S, TUAM

WITH no fewer than 12 ex-Jarlathâ€â„¢s students in the Galway U-21 panel now unbeaten after four games, the famous Tuam football nursery has three other reasons to look to the future with confidence. Inside the past two weeks the Juvenile and First Year teams won Connacht Championship titles and both are still in the running to do the double in their Leagues, while the Juniors this week qualified for the Connacht final. First to bring silverware back to their college were the Juveniles, 1-9 to 0-7 winners over St Attractaâ€â„¢s, Tubbercurry in the Connacht final, played at Claremorris. The Sligo students started well but Darren Quinn and Joe Lowry led a strong St Jarlathâ€â„¢s fightback; Martin Boyleâ€â„¢s point gave them the lead, followed by a pointed free by senior star Conor Marsden, in off the bench, and then a superb point by Caoilainn Lowry. At half-time St Jarlathâ€â„¢s led by 0-6 to 0-2. St Attractaâ€â„¢s got back level in the third quarter at 6-6 but the Tuam school held them to one point from there to the finish, while adding 1-3 to their own score, the goal a sumptuous strike by Darren Quinn, Man of the Match.[private] Cody Fahy again marhsalled the Tuam defence splendidly, and the winners sealed victory with late points by Darren Quinn and Darragh Silke. Team: David Stenzel; Michael Daly, Dylan McHugh, Pádraig Neenan; Cullen Devane (0-1), Cody Fahy, captain, Shane Mannion; Conor Mannion, Keith Mannion; Éanna Wilson, Joe Lowry (0-1), Ciarán Brady; Caoilainn Lowry (0-1), Darren Quinn (1-3), Martin Boyle (0-1). Subs., Conor Marsden (0-1), Darragh Silke (0-1), D. Shaughnessy, S Feerick, E Finn. Also in the panel: D. Higgins, P. Boyle, J. McHugh, Conor Brady, DJ Whelan, L. Molloy, D. Dunleavy, T. Nicholson, J. Oâ€â„¢Dea, B. Cummins, D. Canney, S. Browne, R. Monaghan, J. Rooney; Ml. Boyle (inj.), C. Carty (inj.). Team management: Michael Talty, Carl Leonard; James Healy, Shane Fahy. FIRST YEARSâ€â„¢ Connacht Championship final: St Jarlathâ€â„¢s 8-12 St Muredachâ€â„¢s, Ballina 4-5, at Ballyhaunis last Thursday. A second provincial title for St Jarlathâ€â„¢s inside eight days, with the first years running up a big score against gallant Mayo opponents who battled all the way to the final whistle. The winners led 4-5 to 2-2 at half-time, playing with spirit after their excellent wins over The Bishâ€â„¢ in the quarter-finals and Summerhill, Sligo in the semi-finals. Just before half-time in the final, S.J.C. goalkeeper Glen McHugh saved a penalty. It was also a mark of the St Jarlathâ€â„¢s determination that two of their star players, Ciarán Burke and Darragh Silke played on although carrying injuries. Darragh had also featured in the Juvenilesâ€â„¢ Connacht final victory the previous week. First yearsâ€â„¢ full-forward Padraic Commins was also recording a notable double; he had led his club Claregalway to victory in the County Féile (U-14) final on the previous Sunday. St Jarlathâ€â„¢s: Glen McHugh (Corofin); Ben Oâ€â„¢Connell (Tuam Stars), Anthony Keating (Tuam Stars), Jonas Fallon (Corofin); Mark King (Claregalway), Gavin Burke, captain (Corofin), Cian Mulcaire (Corofin); Damian Boyle (Cortoon), Ciarán Burke (Tuam Stars, 0-1); Darragh Silke (Corofin, 3-0), Liam Costello (Milltown, 0-1), Conor Newell (Corofin, 2-1); Eoin Broderick (Corofin, 0-4), Padraic Commins (Claregalway, 1-5, 0-3 frees), Niall Cunningham (Annaghdown). Subs used: Troy Murphy (Corofin), Donal Cunningham (Tuam Stars), Ross Kelly (Kilconly), Ciarán Melia (Corofin), Stephen Daly (Kilconly). Also in the panel: John Patrick Byrne (Kilconly), Fionán Cahill (Killererin), Cormac Deignan (Tuam Stars), Cillian Donnellan (Kilconly), Shane Dunleavy (Tuam Stars), Darragh Geraghty (Tuam Stars), Aaron Gormally (Killererin), Peter Gormally (Corofin), Jack Kelly (Corofin), Brian Lally (Kilconly), Ross Mahon (Corofin), Gerard McCafferty (Milltown), Darren Mitchell (Milltown), Eoin Mullins (Dunmore MacHales), Cian Ronan (Kilconly), Jack Ward (Tuam Stars). Team management: Michael Meehan, Andrew Carney.[/private]