Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Croker joy for local schools
By Stephen Leonard, Hayden Moore, Ciaran Kirk
IN WHAT was a repeat of the 2018 Corn Ó Donnchú Final, Holy Family NS, Rathcoole again triumphed over a young and tenacious Sacred Heart, Sruleen.
Winning out 8-9 to 3-5, Holy Family found themselves 10 points up at the halftime interval, although the gap should have been a lot narrower.
St Finian's Euan Morris aand Ciaran Burke lift the Corn Mhic Chaoilte (Image: Donall Farmer)
Indeed Sruleen’s Jack Rothwell was desperately unlucky with his early efforts which saw him twice hit the crossbar, while at the other end, the Rathcoole side rattled the net four times in the opening half through Elliott Hunt, Conor Maher and Richard Donnelly.
These scores, together with points by Jake Tansey, Ben Noone and Armandas Turauskbas left Holy Family in a comfortable position heading into the second period despite Kyle Johnston scrambling home a goal for Heart before the recess.
Rathcoole refused to take their foot off the pedal in the second period with Tansey taking his tally to 1-5 while Donnelly, Cillian Birchall and James Reilly also got their names among the goal scorers.
Kesther Efe and Brandyn Keogh found the net for Sacred Heart, but they had just too much ground to make up.
The midfield partnership of Conor Quinn and Noone proved very effective for Holy Family while Cole Byas was solid in goal as were Kalem Mearns and Conor Andrews in defence and Bobby Russell who weighed in with a point.
ST FINIAN’S, Newcastle landed their first boys title in Cumann na mBunscol action since the 1980s after they beat Gaelscoil Cholmcille Lána na Cúlóige 2-7 to 1-5 in the Corn Mhic Chaoilte decider in Croke Park on Tuesday morning.
While they did lead by the narrowest of margins at the halftime break thanks to three points from Ciaran Burke, Finian’s later found themselves four points adrift after their opponents made a strong surge early in the second period.
Yet they soon mounted a comeback, ignited by a superb point by Darragh Tougher after which Adam Abkary found the back of the net from a free.
Evan Morris, Josh Tobin and Dylan McMenamy also struck over the bar before Tobin served up a late goal to help see this Finian’s team over the line just a year after the schools hurlers also emerged successfully from Croke Park.
Sacred Heart NS, Sruleen put up a great battle, but were edged out
SACRED Heart NS, Sruleen were beaten 5-4 to 2-2 despite some excellent individual performances in their Sciath na Laoch final against Gaelscoil Cholmcille of Coolock.
In defence, Sruleen were tough to break down with standout performances from Debbie Abesoye, Sandra Salou and Jessica Androi keeping the scores low for the Coolock side.
Sruleen’s Emily Crook Hammond racked up an impressive 1-1, with their other goal coming from Holly Pierce. Zayda Byrne had an excellent game providing for the forwards around her while Ola Coady also struck over the bar.
Luke Collins of Scoil Maelruain SNS Old Bawn lifts the Corn na nGearaltach (Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan)
A TACTICAL swap from Scoil Maelruáin SNS after the break paid off against St Oliver Plunkett NS as they overturned two quick goals to eventually run out 1-14 to 2-9 winners in the Corn na nGearaltach.
Having gone into the break level at 0-6 apiece, the Malahide lads came out gunning and stunned their opposition with two rapid-fire goals.
Yet moving midfielder Jason Crowley into full-forward proved a masterstroke for Scoil Maelruain as the target man got a fist on a long ball into the box from Luke Collins to send it to the net.
Centre-forward Ryan Purdy chipped in with a handful of points and levelled it when he ran through the middle of the park before checking back inside to send it over off his right.
Plunkett’s had a chance to re-establish their lead from the penalty spot, but they stuck it over the bar rather than under it with captain Collins tacking on a brace of late frees to bring his tally to 0-6 from midfield and help see his side lift the cup.
St Peter Apostle SNS Neilstown celebrate winning the Sciath Ó Donnchú in Croke Park
ST PETER Apostle SNS muscled their way into the lead early on against Holy Spirit and they stayed there for the remain-der of the game, subsequently raising the Sciath Ó Donnchú following a 3-2 to 0-8 win.
Competing in their first final in Croke Park in more than 25 years, the Neilstown school came flying out of the blocks with grit and determination and it paid off when Cody Keogh rattled the net with the first attempt of the game.
Cutting in from right half-forward, Keogh pinged the ball across goal into the bottom left corner and captain Lee Dunne added to the lead with a point minutes later.
Coming out of the interval 1-1 to 0-2 down, Holy Spirit battled hard to cut the deficit and they had several opportunities to level but could not get past ‘keeper Tighe Flood or full-back Patrick Wisniewski.
Travis Domican and Calum Combs fired to the net two more times while their team mate Mario Omozee split the posts late on to guarantee a win for the Clondalkin school.
St Mary’s BNS, Rathfarnham celebrate capturing the Corn Kitterick
In the Corn Kitterick Final St Mary’s BNS of Rathfarnham showed their class, beating defending champions Scoil Mhuire of Marino 8-13 to 0-8 for their fourth ever win in the top division of Cumman na mBunscoil competition.
The Rathfarnham side led 2-6 to 0-5 by half time, with star performances in defence for Mary’s by centre half back Conor Quigley and full back Ben Sheehan while midfielder Josh Mooney was very influential in both defence and attack.
Mary’s forwards fired on all cylinders throughout with Jack Cooney, Alan Delaney and Chisom Chime all getting a goal each, while Matthew Lehane and Leon Crayton bagged braces.
Co- Managers Fergal Duffy and Don O’ Neill were extremely pleased with the boys’ performance with the former saying “The passing was the big difference. We played great ‘heads up’ football.”
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