Cowboys Challenge grand final live stream: Unbeaten St Patrick’s take on Ignatius Park in decider

St Patrick’s have made up for last year’s shock Cowboys Challenge grand final defeat - but underdogs Ignatius Park were certainly not overwhelmed by the occasion. Relive all the action.

Myles Rosemond weaves his way through the St Pat’s line and surges down the wing. 

Ryan John thunders across the field in pursuit, hitting the Iggy Park fullback and taking him down. 

It was a try-saving tackle.

If grand finals are to be decided in moments, that was it.

The St Patrick’s College crowd knew it, too, breaking into applause. 

This St Pat’s Cowboys Challenge side knows far too well the feeling of having grand final victory snatched from its grasp, having lost last year’s decider to Kirwan in the dying moments.

St Pat's are the Cowboys Challenge champions

John wasn’t about to let that happen again, single-handedly killing Ignatius Park College’s momentum and ensuring a 24-10 victory for St Pat’s. 

It was a gallant effort by Iggy Park to reach the decider, having finished the round robin phase of the competition with a 1-1-3 record, before they stunned Kirwan in the semi-final, denying the possibility of an enthralling grand final rematch.

And while Iggy Park had their moments in the second half, the first was controlled by St Pat’s as they held their opponents scoreless.

Kereama Gartner set the foundation for the St Pat’s victory early, forcing his way over from close-range in the opening minutes. 

The clash subdued to a grind momentarily, before a Mark Morrow linebreak lay the foundation for a Cooper Deguara try. 

It was the hookers’ first, he would also score the final try in a showing worthy enough to see him adjudged player of the match. 

After the break, Billy Cruden tumbled his way into the corner to extend St Pat’s lead to 18-0. 

An Iggy Park fightback ensued, lead by tries to Daniel Spicer and Jarred Charlie off the back of individual brilliance from Rosemond and Nayte Essery. 

But it wasn’t to be as John’s ensuing chase down ensured the rush of momentum was to no avail.

The St Pat’s forward pack, lead by Gartner, proved to be the root of the eventual champions success, gaining valuable metres time and time again, while centre Norman Campbell lay crucial tackles aplenty on defence.

Adam McSherry played with his usual crafty class, while Hamish Donohoe also had a strong game from fullback.

PREVIEW

St Patrick’s College is out to exorcise the demons of last year’s grand final loss when they take on Townsville’s Ignatius Park College in Wednesday’s Cowboys Challenge decider.

It’s been a dominant season for St Pat’s, who remain unbeaten and are coming off a 36-10 thrashing of cross-town rivals Mackay State last week in the semifinal.

Ignatius Park, who had won just one game throughout the round robin phase of the tournament, upset Kirwan State High 28-10 to book their ticket in the big dance.

You can catch the grand final LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from 10:15am on Wednesday. Find the full Queensland streaming schedule below.

Despite their new-found momentum, Iggy Park will need to produce an even bigger upset if they are to defeat St Pat’s.

St Pat’s coach Tom Gaviglio is confident heading into the clash.

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Hamish Donohoe has been another standout for St Pat’s.

“We’ve beaten them twice this year… we’ve got that confidence knowing we can beat them, it’s just about executing,” Gaviglio said.

“We’ve done a good job in the first five to 10 minutes, just getting it into a grind and playing some back and forth football until we get our opportunity, and whoever our strike player is on the day, just making sure we can get them as much of the ball as possible.”

Adam McSherry has been St Pat’s strike player more often than not this season, and that didn’t change in last week’s semi-final.

“He got us back into it,” said Gaviglio.

Gaviglio also pinpointed Norman Campbell as a player to keep a close eye on.

“He’s our centre and he had some big carries from the back. Our forwards were excellent as well, they did a really good, got us on the front foot,” he said.

One of many St Pat’s tries in a barnstorming semi-final performance.

St Pat’s will be looking to make amends for the 2022 season ending in such a traumatic way.

“In the moment when it happened, we made the year nines, who are in our squad this year, just remember how in these big games things can chop and change so quickly,” Gaviglio said.

“Thirty seconds before that hooter went we had the game in the bag against Kirwan, and then after that full-time siren they scored - and it’s everything you’ve kind of worked for.

“We’ve brought it up a few times in the build-up, just knowing what the past has done to us previously, and being aware that in big games you don’t drop your intensity for a minute or two.”