Last Wednesday in RCC grounds, our first-year boys football team took home the Roscommon 1st Year B Championship, newly named the Sr. Bernard Cup. This was a fantastic achievement for this bunch of players and that bit extra special as the first years the previous two years had lost out in the final of the competition. The opposition on this occasion was Roscommon CBS. It was an incredibly competitive game all throughout with RCC getting the scores at crucial times to stay ahead. This was complemented by some heroic defending by Mark Farrell and Daniel Connolly with Noah Mulligan pulling off some wonderful saves. Jason Daly and Harry McDermott made some marauding runs through the middle of the CBS defence to create the scores and at HT, the score read 2-10 to 1-03 to RCC. In the second half, the CBS started very well and closed the gap but again, Mulligan in goal came up big with some massive stops and RCC kept managing to find the CBS net whenever it felt as if the tide was changing. Luiz Da Silva got the final goal and when the final whistle blew, the scoreline read RCC 7-12 CBS 3-07 and RCC were celebrating being county champions.
It had been a hectic month for the 1st year boys football team in Roscommon Community College. It started with their Connacht Quarter final against Seamount Kinvara. This young team had qualified for the knockout stages top of their group by virtue of a great win versus Drumsbambo VS and a hard-earned draw against St. Cuan’s Castleblakeny. In the quarter final, RCC had started well and held an early lead and went into the break a point ahead but Kinvara, with the aid of the breeze, tacked over scores at vital times to get that bit ahead and finished winners on a scoreline of 2-10 to 1-07.
A week later, the Transition Year students organised a Gaelic football blitz for all1st year students who play Gaelic football, and this was a very enjoyable event with some great football being played. Well done to all the TY students involved in organising.
Finally, our 1st year boys’ team were invited by Castlerea CS to take part in their annual Liam Campbell cup competition. This was played last Friday, the 17th of May in Castlerea GAA grounds. Firstly, our lads played the hosts, Castlerea CS, and won out on a scoreline of 2-9 to 5 points. This qualified them into the final where they would play Ballyhaunis CS. The first half was a cracking affair with RCC creating the better chances. Mark Naughton had a shot brilliantly saved before Harry McDermott weaved through the Ballyhaunis defence to kick a cracking shot into the back of the net. It came at a cost however as he got hurt in the process. RCC went into the break a point adrift 1-05 to 1-04. In the opening minutes of the second half, RCC again had the lion’s share of possession but struggled to score and soon after, Ballyhaunis pounced for a brace of goals and pulled away. It showed our young team how far they had come and that they compete at that level. We thank Mr. Gooney and Castlerea CS for the chance to take part in such a wonderful competition.
This finished the 1st year boys football programme for the year, and we look forward to seeing them represent their clubs throughout the year and the school next year when they make the step up to the juvenile ranks. Thanks to the coaches Mr. Boyle and Mr. Martin for the work they did all year and the man with the Midas touch, Mr. Timmons, who helped with their county final victory.
Squad: Aidan Carley, Jason Daly, Lee Costello, Daniel Connolly, Namish Bhandari, Daniel Cardoso Siklosi, 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, Roman Tulej, Cillian Butler, Luiz Rodrigues Da Silva
