*The Rice College team.
RICE COLLEGE have qualified for the All-Ireland PPS Br Edmund Ignatius Rice Cup Final (Senior D Football) after a hard-fought win over St Brendan’s Belmullet at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence on Saturday afternoon.
Rice College Ennis: 2-10
St Brendan’s Belmullet: 2-09
Venue: Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan
By Gearóid Howley
A strong second-half performance from the Ennis-based school proved decisive in sealing their place in the decider, with goals from St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield’s Rhys Murphy and Éire Óg’s Niall Doyle arriving at crucial junctures.
The opening half was a low-scoring affair as Rice College edged ahead by the minimum on a scoreline of 0-3 to 0-2. The Munster champions had the advantage of the wind after the break, which they used to telling effect.
Two Banner clubmen were also to the fore. Goalkeeper Tony Burke produced a vital penalty save in the 21st minute, while centre-forward Seán Hegarty landed a brace of two-pointers to put them in the ascendency.
Niall Doyle struck their final 1-1 of the contest in Bekan, with his closing point ultimately proving to be the match-winner.
Spanish Point were the last Clare school to win a national title at this level in 2023, a feat which Rice College will be hoping to emulate in the coming weeks.
Speaking after the victory, Rice College manager Denis O’Driscoll felt there were signs of nerves within his side during the opening half, but a goal just 70 seconds into the second period helped to settle them. “The first half was a poor enough spectacle, it was only three points to two at half-time. I’d say there were some nerves, especially on our side as well. The second half we got a goal very early on from Rhys Murphy that probably settled us and then we kicked three massive two-pointers. Obviously the wind being behind us was a help, but they were serious kicks”.
After a late fightback from the Mayo school, O’Driscoll also felt his side showed great courage in the closing stages. “We stretched out a nice lead and then Belmullet came back at us. They scored two goals in three minutes and tagged on a point as well. We had been 1-9 to 0-4 up and then suddenly it was 1-9 to 2-5 with ten minutes to go. Niall Doyle then won a ball, went through a couple of them and managed to find the top corner with his left foot to give us a bit of breathing space again. But Belmullet finished strong and kicked the last four points and brought it back to one. We were definitely hanging on but we were delighted to hear the final whistle and be a point to the good”.
When asked if he had a full panel to select from, the St Breckan’s clubman told The Clare Echo that Éire Óg dual star Darren Moroney was not released for Saturday’s game as he is currently part of the Clare U20 hurling panel. “We were missing a player who wasn’t released by the Clare Under-20 hurling management. He would have been a big player for us, but we’re hopeful of having him available for the final,” O’Driscoll stated.
“We actually don’t have that many on county underage squads. We have one fella with the Clare minor footballers, one with the Clare Under-20 footballers and a couple with the Under-20 hurlers and the Under-19 hurling squad. They’re all busy with their clubs as well. The club scene is just kind of starting to kick off so we’ve been able to train, probably not as much as we would have liked, but we’re conscious that we don’t want to overload lads. We’ll be looking to get another few good sessions in before the final,” he concluded.
Rice College: Tony Burke (Banner); Tom Spellman (Banner), Tadhg Bane (Banner), Conal O’Reilly (Banner); Liam McAllister (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), James Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Seán McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); Eoin Fitzpatrick (Banner), Aaron Mounsey (Éire Óg Inis); Dylan Tierney (Éire Óg Inis), Seán Hegarty (Banner), Rhys Murphy (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); Jack McAllister (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Niall Doyle (Éire Óg Inis), Charlie O’Doherty (Éire Óg Inis)
Subs: Cailum Henchy (Banner), Darren Moroney (Éire Óg Inis), Eoin Pyne (Éire Óg Inis), Keelan Bane (Banner), Charlie Lenihan (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Ethan Walsh (Banner), Thomas Flynn (Éire Óg Inis), Zach Mulcaire (Banner), Kyle Lillis (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), James McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Cillian Flynn (Banner), Dylan Fitzsimons (Banner), Fiacc Corey (Clondegad), Jamie Breheny (Éire Óg Inis).
