PRIMARY SCHOOLS FINAL: Carlanstown survive late scare to hold on

Scoil Mhuire Carlanstown claimed the Boys Div 4 title in sensational style at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, but not before an almighty scare as St Peter & Paul's Drumconrath launched a superb comeback.

Trailing by 12 points two minutes into the second-half and inspired by the brilliant Ava Hickey St Peter & Paul's got back to within a point late on and were it not for the heroics of Carlanstown goalkeeper Noah Foster the outcome might have been much different.

The rip-roaring opening half had a goal on the board inside 30 seconds as Shaun O'Rourke finished superbly.

That score boosted Carlanstown enormously with Alex Sweeney, Shay Farrell, Cian Briody, Dylan Clarke and Conor Briody all adding to their tally by the seventh minute to open up a 1-5 to 0-0 lead.

Drumconrath were a threat, but Noah Foster made a string of outstanding saves to deny Tadhg Byrne, Ava Hickey and Darragh Gilsenan on several occasions.

Kian McKeever finally got Drumconrath off the mark in the 14th minute when he punched a centre to the net, but points from Ryan Sweeney and Cian Briody, either side of a fine score from Darragh Gilsenan, ensured Carlanstown led by 1-7 to 1-1 after 16 minutes.

Shaun O'Rourke extended that lead with his side's second goal when he punched Conor Briody's centre to the net and seconds later Conor McEntee made it 3-7 to 1-1 when he scrambled the ball to the net.Liam McMahon kept Drumconrath in the game with a goal from a long range free, but they trailed 2-1 to 3-7 at the break.

Dylan Clarke extended that lead to 12 points within 90 seconds of the restart, but remarkably that was Carlanstown's last score as Drumconrath launched a brilliant comeback.

Rylee Irwin kickstarted the recovery with a goal before a couple of points from Ava Hickey closed the gap to 3-3 to 4-7.

Kian McKeever was denied by a great block by Alex Sweeney, but the scores continued to come for Drumconrath as two frees from Ava Hickey sandwiched a point from Darragh Gilsenan to make it 3-6 to 4-7.

Tommy Sheerin won a kickout and blasted a brilliant soccer style goal to put the minimum between the sides with eight minutes remaining, but that was the end of the scoring as Carlanstown held on for a memorable victory.

Scoil Mhuire Carlanstown - Noah Foster; Alex Duffy, Kai Seenan McConnell; Finn O’Sullivan, Alex Sweeney (0-1), Tom Moriarty; Dylan Clarke (1-1), Cían Briody (0-2); Shay Farrell (0-1), Conor Briody (0-1), Conor McEntee (1-0); Shaun O’Rourke (2-0), Ryan Sweeney (0-1). Philip Simurka, Ryan Gaffney, Leo Grogan, Max McCabe, Prince Bokunde, Conor Doherty, Leachlainn O’Connell, Joel Gernon, PJ Carolan, James Coyle; mentors - Claire Allen, Tommy Moriarty.

St Peter & Paul's NS Drumconrath - Jack McGahan; Moira O’Connor, Cathal McMahon; Niamh McCluskey, Rhys McLoughlin, Tommy Sheerin (1-0); Ava Hickey (0-4 two frees), Liam McMahon (1-0 free); Kian McKeever (1-0), Darragh Gilsenan (0-2), Paudie McMahon; Tadhg Byrne, Rylee Irwin (1-0). AJ Finnegan, Mason Carrie, Marianne McMahon, Aidan McMahon, Michael McMahon, Danny Sheerin, Conor Malone, Keane Matthews, Ellis Tighe; mentors - D Rowe, J Donoghue, A Hickey.

Referee - James Brennan (St Ultan’s NS Bohermeen).