A new exciting chapter for St Clare's Manorhamilton says delighted Shane Ward

Winning a Connacht title and taking part in the All-Ireland series is another exciting new chapter for St Clare’s CS Manorhamilton according to manager Shane Ward after the school’s boys team claimed the Mezzino Connacht PPS Senior C title last Friday.

Up against a highly rated Gortnor Abbey, St Clare’s won 2-9 to 1-10 to clinch the title and Shane admits that getting over the line was a big event: “We are big on sport in the  school, we put a lot of energy into it. We have a lot of great staff involved and invested in sport, whether it be soccer, Gaelic, boys, girls, it doesn't matter, we all work together as a big group. 

“No team goes without one or two people involved in it, and it's great to see the young staff coming in, putting new energy into the sports and they're willing to go anywhere and do anything, which is fantastic.

 “I'm there a lifetime now at this stage, and for me it's just proud to see them progressing and giving kids the opportunity to play sports at school -  I think it's so, so important. It creates a great balance, and you know the footballers will always work hard in class and when they go out to sport they'll always do the same.”

The former Leitrim manager credited his players for the victory: “Days like this  definitely don't come around too often. We're a long time at it but those boys tonight, a different kind of group tonight, just a bit of exposure and a bit of experience this year at different levels.

CHECK OUT ST CLARE'S CELEBRATIONS AS THEY CLAIM CONNACHT TITLE - GALLERY

“They were ready to rock when they came in  September and they've been going since then. They've kept the intensity up that they've been playing at since the Minor Championship back in June and July, it's great.”

Shane  highlighted the importance of the clubs supporting the School team: “The strength in this team is something maybe we haven't had over the last couple of years, is a balance from all the clubs. We have Shannon Gaels players, we have Dromahair and Glencar Manor players  and really to compete at the schools level, you need all the clubs feeding in.

“You can generally have a strong 15, 18, 20, 24. This year we have a squad of 36 tonight and it's great. A lot of them are in fifth year and around next year, so it's great exposure for them as well.”

Shane revealed that he told his players at halftime to keep doing what they had been doing:  “We had a great first half, we made the most of it and  I thought they defended really well. They doubled and tripled up on Jack Kelly there but we attacked really really well and that goal that Jack Attard got was a really really well worked score. 

“At halftime, we just encouraged them to keep it simple and keep the ball moving. I thought when we moved the ball fast we were a much better team all around the pitch but obviously when you come into the last 10 minutes it's going to be who wants it the most and the boys dug it out.

“A couple of the older boys stood up, like when that pressure was on, they stood up and  were brave and that's really what you want. I said to them at halftime, there's no point in shying back, be brave if a mistake happens, just respond well and they did that, it was just a great football to watch.”

St Clare’s now set their sights on an All-Ireland Semi-Final  and Shane is relishing the prospect: “I never look that far ahead, so we'll be looking forward to it, something different, a new team to play which is great. Tonight it was great to play Gortnor Abbey, we hadn't seen them in a long time, and a new team from another province, sure will bring something different.”