Primary Schools Finals: Dara Loughran excellent in magnificent Cortown win

There were many stars for St Brigid's Cortown as they claimed the Boys Div 5 title in stunning style at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday morning with a 4-18 to 6-6 win over Killyon but none shone brighter than the outstanding Dara Loughran.

Loughran finished with a personal tally of 2-11 in a sensational display, but it was by no means a one-man show as the winners excelled and produced a stunning third quarter display which left Killyon with too much to do.

There was little between the sides at half time as Cortown led 2-8 to 3-3, but after the break Cortown outscored Killyon by 2-7 to 0-1 in the first 12 minutes to seal the win.

The pace was relentless from the off with Loughran showing the accuracy from placed balls made famous by his father Glenn as he opened the scoring.

Eoin Fitzsimons doubled Cortown's lead, but then Killyon hit back with a devastating purple patch.

Gavin Carney was very strong in setting up Evan Foran for a brilliant goal and by the ninth minute Karla Hannon and Charlie O'Donnell added points to push the Hill of Down school into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.

Cortown settled again with Rory smith taking full advantage of his second chance and burying the ball to the net, Loughran pushed his side ahead again with a fine point and when Leah Codd pointed brilliantly under pressure Cortown were ahead by two.

However, back came Killyon again with O'Donnell blasting a superb goal on the counter-attack to make it 2-2 to 1-4 after 14 minutes.

Points from Eoin Fitzsimons either side of a point attempt from Loughran which fell to the net stretched Cortown's lead to 2-6 to 2-2, but Killyon refused to give up.

O'Donnell replied with his second goal to leave the minimum between the sides, but two points from Loughran, either side of one from Foran for Killyon, boosted Cortown to a 2-8 to 3-3 interval lead.

Loughran and Carney traded points after the resumption, but then Cortown took over with Loughran adding two points after Codd had rattled the crossbar.

O'Donnell was denied a goal by Charlie Dempsey before points from Fitzsimons and Loughran were followed by fortunate goals from distance from Smith and Loughran which made it 4-13 to 3-4.

Fitzsimons and Loughran stretched that lead to 4-15 to 3-4 before goals from Foran and O'Donnell gave Killyon hope with six minutes remaining.

That hope was extiunguished as Loughran and Smith pointed either side of another O'Donnell point to stretch Cortown's lead to 4-17 to 5-5.

Max Keoghan pushed into attack for Killyon and was rewarded with a goal, but Cortown defended superbly in the closing stages and after Loughran and Carney traded late points it was Cortown who were crowned champions.

St Brigid's NS Cortown - Charlie Dempsey; Harvey English, Cormac Conway, Harry Keating; Rory Smith (2-1), Eoin Fitzsimons (0-5); Dara Loughran (2-11 four frees), Liam Lynch, Leah Codd (0-1). Subs - Fionn O’Rourke, Tommy Clynch, Seán O’Halloran, Paddy O’Halloran, James Murphy, Dáire Tully. Mentors - Barry O’Rourke, Jason Coffey, Colin Quigley.

St Finian's NS Killyon - Shane Quinn; Rossa Weldon, Max Keoghan (1-0), Karla Hannon (0-1); Charlie O’Donnell (3-2), Luke Orton; Evan Foran (2-1), Gavin Carney (0-2), Claragh Joyce. Subs - Ciarán Gregan, Paul Brady, Lily Mulchrone, Faye McCormack, Siobhán McKeon, Grace Victory, Hannah Williamson, Nicole Quinn. Mentors - Áine Mulchrone, Jane Burke.

Referee - Tony Kearney.