Connacht Senior Hurling ‘D’ Semi Final
RCC 2 – 13 CCM Spiddal 4 – 20
RCC senior hurlers bowed out of the Connacht senior hurling ‘D’ championship on Monday the 19th of February against a strong Colaiste Chroi Mhuire Spiddal team. The game took place in the fabulous Connacht GAA Air Dome and both teams knew that this was going to be a lively encounter and so it proved to be.
CCM Spiddal got off to a lightening quick start with a goal in the opening 2 minutes by their corner forward. This was quickly followed by a wonderful finish to the net from RCC danger man Conor Morris. Both teams exchanged points from placed balls before a well worked move along the right side of the attack from RCC resulted in a ball being fed across the middle to the onrushing Brian Mannion who emphatically struck to the net. This was swiftly followed by a point from Liam Naughten to leave RCC in control after 10 minutes.
This seemed to spur CCM Spiddal into action who replied with a goal of their own and a number of well taken long range points. The final 10 minutes of the first half were keenly contested but a turnover in the RCC defence led to a Spiddal goal to leave them ahead at the break by 7 points.
Spiddal asserted their dominance at the beginning of the second half with the opening 3 scores coming from play. This left RCC with a huge battle ahead but with Cormac Naughton and Eoghan Morris driving forward from the middle, RCC started to eat into the Spiddal lead. Tommy Morris and Conor Morris linked well on several occasions and threatened the Spiddal defence.
Having narrowed the gap to a now more manageable 6 points disaster struck as Spiddal broke quickly and hit the back of the net for their fourth goal of the game. RCC continued to battle in the last 10 mins as they pushed for goals but to no avail. Spiddal were worthy winners as they saw out the game to book their place in the final.
A special mention to our 6th year students Tommy, Brian, Nathan, Ethan, Josh, Elliot, Brian, Dylan, Sean, Conor & Ryan who played their final hurling game for RCC. The lads have been fabulous role models for the young hurlers in the school and gave the school some great moments on the hurling fields of Connacht throughout the last 6 years.
