Brilliant St Clare's turned in awesome display to qualify for All-Ireland Final

There is no such thing as the perfect  performance but if there is, St Clare's CS came pretty close last Saturday evening on the 3G pitch at Kingspan Breffni Park as the Manorhamilton school turned in a scintillating display to qualify for the Masita All-Ireland PPS Senior C Final. 

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann simply didn't know what hit them as St Clare's started like a proverbial tornado and never let-up from second one to the final whistle, blowing the Donaghmede school out of the water with a display that had to be seen to be believed.

Jack Kelly was the executioner in chief, four points inside the first four minutes setting the tone for the game and when St Clare's struck for two goals in a blink of an eye just 12 minutes into the second half, the Leitrim school could start planning for an All-Ireland Final.

What was singularly impressive was the fact that St Clare's never let up - with manager Shane Ward exhorting them to concentrate on the next ball, the next point, the next tackle, St Clare's played as if they were ten points behind and not leading by a proverbial mile.

Jack Kelly rightly gets the plaudits as he turned Gaelcholáiste Reachrann inside out and they never recovered. The Dublin lads looked as if they were a deer caught in the headlights as they were simply unable to cope with the intricate passing and swift counter attacks of St Clare's.

HISTORY FOR ST CLARE'S AS MANORHAMILTON SCHOOL LAND CONNACHT TITLE

Bailey McBride dominated the middle of the park, with more than ample help from Ronan Fox, but it was McBride who set the tone for the game, his ability to win the ball and punishingly powerful runs something Gaelcholáiste Reachrann had no answer to.

With Kelly to mind, it left room in the Gaelcholáiste Reachrann defence for Zach Gethins and Jack Attard to profit and they certainly. Dromahair's Gethings landed three goals and could have two more while Attard was almost as deadly as Kelly, who incredibly landed seven points inside the first 20 minutes and didn't score for the remainder of the game.

 It wasn't that St Clare's needed their captain as their voracious defence where Evin Gilligan was outstanding never allowed Gaelcholáiste Reachrann a hint of a comeback.

It was a truly devastating performance from St Clare's and one that will take some stopping if repeated in the All-Ireland Final!

If the message was that St Clare’s should stamp their class on the proceedings early on, well they certainly took it to heart with four Jack Kelly points, all from play, inside the first four minutes, two inside the first 60 seconds as the Manor lads won both the throw-in and kickout to get off to a blistering start.

The St Clare's CS Manorhamilton team who defeated Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in the Masita All-Ireland PPS Senior C Semi-Final in Kingspan Breffni Park Picture: Willie Donnellan

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann were bewildered by the speed of movement and intent of St Clare’s player, a turnover leading to Kelly’s third point before Luke Farrell blasted up from defence, briefly threatening a goal before feeding Kelly for a fine point.

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann looked as if they were settling when Scott Mac Siulai finished off a good move with a fine point after four minutes but the Donaghmede lads were soon finding their intricate passing moves perishing on the rock of a St Clare’s defence, continually getting a hand in and forcing turnovers.

Kelly converted a free after a foul on himself before Jack Attard turned provider for Kelly to score after just 11 minutes on the clock. It was already looking very ominous for the Dublin school but within 60 seconds, the game was over from their point of view as St Clare’s struck for two quick fire goals.

First St Clare’s won another Gaelcholáiste Reachrann kickout, Bailey McBride took off on a powerful run, playing a 1-2 with Jack Kelly, before rifling the ball to the net. A rattled Gaelcholáiste Reachrann sent the kickout long, St Clare’s won it again and another great move ended with a precise finish to the net from Zach Gettins.

That left St Clare’s with an 11 point advantage after 12 minutes and they made sure the Dublin school would not have a hope of getting back into the game as Jack Attard hit two points, one from a free, and another from Senan Kelly to stretch the Manor lead even further.

Tadhg O’Domhnaill, the one Gaelcholáiste Reachrann to consistently threaten St Clare’s scored a fine point from the corner 17 minutes before Jack Kelly replied from a free. O’Domhnaill then saw a dangerous free punched clear on the line after fierce pressure from the Dublin school.

Credit Gaelcholáiste Reachrann for refusing to bend the knee but they had three wides and only a solitary free from Cameron O’Cleirigh to show for their efforts while Attard (free) and McBride landed points, Zach Gethins close to another goal after the Kelly brothers combined.

That left St Clare’s with a mammoth 2-12 to 0-3 halftime lead and they were obviously intent on not allowing Gaelcholáiste Reachrann a sniff of a fightback with Jack Attard scoring a nice point after a minute of the second half.

O’Cleirigh hit a good point after a turnover but despite a block on a dangerous Gaelcholáiste Reachrann shot, it never looked as if the Dubliners would get back into the game, particularly when Attard fired over a free moved in for dissent.

The game, while not officially over, was as good as over six minutes into the second half when a quick counter-attack and slick passing that St Clare’s featured all game ended with Zach Gethins blasting home his second goal. Gethins then picked up a yellow card and had a goal disallowed, rightly, for a square ball.

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann put their first back to back scores together in the game when sub Eoghan O’Fuaruige, Gavin O hIci and O’Cleirigh all landed points, O hIci seeing his shot graze the crossbar while Josh Sheridan made a great save from Mac Siulai O Casaide to prevent a certain goal.

LEITRIM JUST HAVE TO STICK AT IT SAYS KILDARE BOSS FLANAGAN

Bailey McBride swapped a fine point with O hIci before O’Domhnaill hit another fine point from the corner as the clocked ticked on. Attard (free) and Senan Kelly tagged on points to stall any momentum Gaelcholáiste Reachrann might be building.

However, with five minutes left in the game, the Donaghmede lads got a goal when Cameron O’Cleirigh’s long range free sneaked in under the crossbar for a goal. But any joy there was in the Gaelcholáiste Reachrann camp was soon wiped away when a Kelly free was spilled and Zach Gethins was on hand to blast the ball to the net for his hat-trick.

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann kept battling, forcing three saves from Josh Sheridan in added time but St Clare’s wouldn’t budge, even with victory all but assured as they cruised home to victory.

ST CLARE’S CS MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Zach Gettins 3-0; Jack Kelly 0-7, 2f; Jack Attard 0-6, 3f; Bailey McBride 1-2; Senan Kelly 0-2

Team: Josh Sheridan, Luke Farrell, James Hughes, Eoin McLoughlin, Cian McMorrow, Evin Gilligan, Sean Brady, Bailey McBride, Ronan Fox, Karl Gethins, Zach Gethins, Cathal Curneen, Senan Kelly, Jack Kelly, Jack Attard. Subs: Ben Gibney for Curneen (36); Matthew Speers for Fox (51); Colm Rooney for McBride (53)

GAELCHOLÁISTE REACHRANN

Scorers: C O’Cleirigh 1-3, 1f; T. O’Domhnaill & G. O hIci 0-2 each; E. O Fuaruisge & S Mac Siúlaí O Casaide 0-1 each

Team: B. Mac Concharraige, C. Ó Fearghail, C. O Liathain, C. Andarsan, C. Mac Carthaigh, T.Pennie, D. O Murchu, R. Mac Craith, N. O Giobnaigh, T. O’Domhnaill, C O’Cleirigh, G. O hIci; S Mac Siúlaí O Casaide, M. Mac Suain, O. O Riain. Subs: Eoghan O Fuaruisge for Mac Suain (HT); C. O Raghnallaigh for O Liathain (41); C. O Beachain for O Riain (44); F. O Driosceoil for Mac Craith (50); C. O Murchi for Mac Siúlaí O Casaide (53)

Referee: Chris Brady (Monaghan)