PRIMARY SCHOOLS FINALS: Seventh heaven for St Colmcille’s NS
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St Colmcille’s Kells Seimi Mac Gabhann is chased by Donacarney’s Kai Smith during the Boys Div 1 final. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
St Colmcille’s captain Jeaic Ó Fearghail received the Boys Div 1 Cup from Francis Flynn. Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 5
St Colmcille’s Jeaic Ó Fearghail received the Spirit of the Final award from Meath Chronicle’s Tom Gannon. Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 5
The St Colmcille’s NS Kells players (from left) were: back - Donagh Tinley, Elliott Flood Norton, Leighton Dorno, Jack Farrell, Cormac Reilly, Eoghan Brooks, Fionn Harte, Jamie Smith, Callan Brady Folan, Joe Walters, Conor Kearney, Cian Farrelly, Luke McDonnell, Kyle Deegan, Kojus Kursevicius; front - Joe Devine, Mason Bennett Thornbury, Rian McGlue, Cian Brady, James Chamberlain, William O’Riordan, Josh Carroll, Louis Lynch, Cody Tormey, Fionn Arkins, Charlie Kearney, Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net David MullenImage 5 of 5
The Realt na Mara BNS Donacarney players (from left) were: back - Elliott McDonald, Daniel Gallagher, Shane Murphy, Conor Bourke, Daniel Doolin, Cody Farrell, Ronan Kelly, Harry Mulligan, Nathanael Okpoko, Matas Miknevicius, Harry Miley, Oran Power; front - Kai Smith, Sonny Browning, Josh Dunne, Liam Maxwell, Finn McLaughlin, Dáithí Collins, Sean Sherlock Lynch, Nico De Marchis, Ryan Burke. Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net David MullenBOYS DIV 1
The green flag was raised 10 times in total as St Colmcille's NS, Kells proved to be too strong for Realt na Mara BNS, Donacarney in the Boys Div 1 final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, writes Tom Gannon
The talented Kells outfit put in one of, if not the most impressive all-round performance that the Cumann na mBunscol finals has seen for quite some time.
Straight from the throw-in, Jeaic O Fearghail drove at the Donacarney defence and made great strides before laying it off to Cathal O Ceartharnaigh who opened the scoring with a well-struck goal.
O Fearghail then found the back of the net himself before a third Kells goal courtesy of Caiden Tolain O Bradaigh gave Kells a 3-5 to no score lead after 10 minutes.
A long ball in found O Ceartharnaigh and he struck for his second goal. A few minutes later, Daniel Gallagher got Donacarney off the mark with a well-taken goal.
Points from O Fearghail, Seosamh Fuaruisc and Louis O Loinsigh cancelled out Gallagher's goal but it was Donacarney who finished the half strongest with a point from Harry Miley and two further goals from Gallagher to complete his hatrick. The sides went in at half-time with St Colmcilles NS, Kells leading 4-9 to 3-1.
Just as they did in the first half, Kells got off to a flyer with a goal two minutes into the second-half. O Fearghail finished the goal after some good link-up play with his midfield partner Seimi Mac Gabhann.
A sixth goal courtesy of Rian Mac Glu was followed by a flurry of points to leave Kells leading 6-14 to 3-1 with 10 minutes to go. Kells' deadly midfield duo linked-up once more and this time it was Mac Gabhann who finished to the back of the net with an absolute wonder strike.
The high-scoring contest slightly tapered off in the closing stages and it was Donacarney's Sonny Browning who kicked the final point. On the day, the powerful Kells side were too strong for Donacarney and their impressive scoring ability saw them claim victory.
St Colmcille's NS Kells - Cormac Ó Raghallaigh; Cian Ó Brádaigh, Donagh Ó Tionaille, Liam Ó Riordáin; Caiden Toláin Ó Brádaigh (1-0), Conchubhar Ó Ceatharnaigh, Seamus Mac Chathail (0-1); Jeaic Ó Fearghail (2-4), Seimi Mac Gabhann (1-3); Seosamh Fuaruisc (0-3, one free), Fionn Ó Hairt (0-1), Louis Ó Loinsigh (0-1); Rían Mac Glú (1-1), Cathal Ó Ceatharnaigh (2-1), Codaí Ó Tormaigh (0-2, one free). Subs - Eoghan De Brúic, Josh Ó Cearbhúil, Cian Ó Fearghaile, Máisiún Mac, Beinéid Deilgsméar, Luc Mac Domhnaill, Leighton Ó Gornaill (0-1, one free), Seosamh O Deibhín, Caolán Ó Dubhadáin, Kojus Kursevicius, Fionn Ó hAircín, Eilias O Maolthuile; mentors - Maeve Briody, Paula Newman, Caroline O’Rorke.
Realt na Mara BNS Donacarney - Harry Mulligan; Daniel Doolin, Conor Bourke (0-1), Oran Power; Josh Dunne, Ryan Burke, Elliott McDonald; Sonny Browning (0-1), Kai Smith; Cody Farrell, Shane Murphy, Harry Miley (0-1); Dáithí Collins, Daniel Gallagher (3-0), Ronan Kelly. Subs - Matas Miknevicius, Liam Maxwell, Nathanael Okpoko, Senan Sherlock Lynch, Charlie Lougheed, Nico De Marchis, Finn McLaughlin; mentors - Aoibhinn Butler, Colum Duffy, Denis Lynch.
Referee - Padraig Farrell (St Oliver’s NS Navan).