Colaiste Iognaid 16

St Joseph’s Garbally 15

Morgan Codyre celebrates the winning penalty. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

MORGAN CODYRE WAS the hero again for Colaiste Iognaid as they collected their 13th Connacht Senior Cup title with a hard-fought win over Garbally at the Sportsground.

Codyre kicked two penalties in their 6-0 win over Marist in the semi-final and again landed the match-winning score as the Jes’ won their first senior cup win since 2011.

Hopkins scoring despite the efforts of David Molloy and Morgan Codyre. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Captain Frank Hopkins crashed over as Garbally struck the first blow of an exciting contest after just eight minutes. Centre Colm O’Brien made the first break and Michael O’Neill added impetus, before the out-half dotted down in the right corner.

Jes were resilient though. And when Garbally were pinged for side entry, Codyre stepped up and slotted a difficult penalty from the 22.

Jes scored their only try of the game in the 24th minute, fullback Diarmuid Codyre sped down the left wing and kicked through for winger David Molloy to apply the finish.

Morgan Codyre’s conversion made it 10-5, but O’Neill powered his way over before half-time pull St Joseph’s got back on level terms.

Garbally’s Stephan Grenham celebrates with try scorer Michael O’Neill James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Garbally almost burst their way to a lead lead three minutes into the second-half. They had an overlap out wide, but Jes wing Cillian McCabe was on hand to put in a vital hit on Reilly.

While Garbally mounted pressure, the Galway City school continued to threaten on the break.Morgan Codyre launched an attack down the right flank, but his final pass was too high for McCabe.

It was with the boot that Codyre really made his impact on the game. The out-half pushed his side 13 – 10 ahead before O’Neill crashed in for a second try to edge Garbally ahead once more.  But Codyre had the final say. His late penalty sealing victory to spark huge celebrations for The Jes.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers

Colaiste Iognaid

Tries: David Molloy

Conversion: Morgan Codyre

Penalties: Morgan Codyre (3)

Jes’ James Hill, Jake Gallagher and Conal Fallon tackle Frank Hopkins of Garbally. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Garbally College

Tries: Frank Hopkins, Michael O’Neill (2)

Colaiste Iognaid: Diarmuid Codyre; Cillian McCabe, Ryan Hunt, James Hill (Sean Monaghan ’70), David Molloy; Morgan Codyre, Jasper Byrne; Adam Corbett, Conal Fallon, Gary Keane; Aaron Mannion, Ross Gorey; Cian Parsons (Cathal McGuinness ’63), Fionn Durkin, Jake Gallagher.

St Joseph’s Garbally: Brian Horkan; Eoin Galvin, Colm O’Brien, Joseph Devine, Billy McKenna; Frank Hopkins, Colm Reilly; Jeff Alova (Conor Smyth ’49), Eoin Costello, Cormac Coffey (Rafeek Khan ’53); Conor Harewood, Stephen Grenham; Mohammad Abdallah (Gene Donoghue half-time), Ciaran Tumelty (Iarla Muldoon ’68), Michael O’Neill.

Referee: Glenn Sheridan.

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