Cumann na mBunscol Finals: King strikes late to secure crown

DIV 3 HURLING

There was a sensational finish to the opening game of the Meath Primary Schools finals at Trim on Friday as St Patrick's NS Baconstown struck two injury-time goals to claim the Div 3 Hurling title in stunning fashion.

Moynalvey NS looked destined for glory as the outstanding James Hanifin looked to have fired them to victory and the equally excellent Conor Keogh impressed in goals.

However, despite trailing by 1-5 to 2-6 in injury-time Baconstown never gave up and got their reward with two goals from hat-trick hero Rhys King.

Moynalvey did go in search of a late winner, but Baconstown defended en bloc and held out.

The exceptional high quality of the scores was evident from the off as James Hanifin landed a huge free from distance to give Moynalvey an early lead.

However despite that setback Baconstown dominated the next few minutes, but were wayward in their shooting as they amassed eight wides in the opening half.

As well as missing those scores Baconstown also contributed some excellent scores and were level by the fourth minute when Sean Enright won a puck out and fired over.

A minute later the excellent Rhys King edged Baconstown in front from a placed ball and five minutes after that his long delivery deceived the Moynalvey defence and ended up in the net to give Baconstown a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.

Hanifin kept Moynalvey in touch with another sensational score under pressure and in the 16th minute he restored parity when he blasted a free from 35 metres to the roof of the net.

King was denied a goal by a brilliant save from Conor Keogh and the defence cleared the follow up.

Hanifin restored Moynalvey's lead with another excellent free and down the other end Keogh did his bit with another fine stop to deny King again.

In the first minute of injury-time Hanifin lofted in another long range free which dropped short. The Baconstown defence half-cleared the danger, but Eva Gannon played the ball across to Adam Dunne who fired from close range to secure a 2-3 to 1-2 interval lead for the Moynalvey side.

King narrowed the deficit three minutes after the restart and the three-point gap remained after Hanifin (from a magnificent long-range free) and Enright (from a '45') traded points.

Hanifin edged Moynalvey in front again with another superb score, but again King replied for Baconstown before Hanifin set-up Moynalvey's 2-6 to 1-5 lead from a '45' with 10 minutes remaining.

Baconstown's chance looked to be gone when they were denied time and again by Keogh, but they never lost hope.

King cut the deficit to the minimum when he fired a free to the net 30 seconds into injury-time and then a minute later he reacted quickest to a loose ball to fine what proved to be the winning score.

St Patrick's Baconstown - Kyle Kavanagh; Ben Dixon, Cormac Dunne; Liam Flynn, Michael Flynn, Cillian Reilly; Will Doherty, Sean Enright (0-2 one '52'); Kealan Sharkey, Rhys King (3-3 1-1 frees), Billy Flynn; Jayden Farrell, Caiden Massey. Subs - Oscar Boggan, Anna Cole, Matthew Bagnall, Charlie Healy, Archie Dunne, Greg Doran. Mentor - Cathal Fenton.

Moynalvey NS - Conor Keogh; Dáire Conneely, Edward O’Shea; Robert Walsh, Áine Corcoran, James Byrne; Scott Williams, Cathal Byrne; Aoife O’Shea, James Hanifin (1-6 1-4 free, one '52'), Adam Dunne (1-0); Órán Conneely, Eva Gannon. Subs - Odhran Donne, Ian Carey, Harry McArdle, Seán Mongey. Mentors - Anna Flynn, Tom Hanifin, Tossie Byrne.

Referee - Eibheann Keegan (Boyerstown NS).