RCC first years completed the group stage of their Connacht campaign when they came back in the dying minutes to snatch a draw against a very strong St. Cuan’s of Castleblakeny. Indeed, they could have won the game only for Harry McDermott being deemed to be in the square when he palmed Mark Naughton’s effort to the net. Both McDermott and Naughton were to the fore in the RCC performance making some great carries when needed and kicking vital scores also. Aidan Carley, Dominik Horvath and Harry McDermott all scored the vital goals of the 3-7 total while at the back, Noah Mulligan made some fantastic saves in goal, especially in the first half. Captain Daniel Connolly, Jack Gormley and William Ward all made some vital interceptions and blocks that kept our lads in the game at times. The final score was RCC 3-7, St. Cuan’s 4-4.
The campaign had opened with a gutsy performance in defeat to a very athletic St Brigid’s of Loughrea team on a scoreline of 3-4 to 2-3. To our lads’ credit, they travelled away to Drumshambo a week later and came away with a marvellous victory in a must win game to get them right back into the competition, goals from Aidan Carley, Dylan Lambert and two from Mark Naughton helping them to a 4-11 to 4-5 victory. They finish the group on 3 points and await the results from other games to see if they make the Connacht quarter finals.
Squad: Aidan Carley, Jason Daly, Lee Costello, Daniel Connolly, Namish Bhandari, William Ward, Dylan Hoban, Mark Farrell, Dominik Horvath, Eoin Kelly, Jack Gormley, Mark Naughton, Harry McDermott, Dylan Lambert, Noah Mulligan, Zac Zvikomborero, Alfie Payne, Victor Soares Silva, Cillian Butler
