GAA: Carlow Cumann na mBunscol

CARLOW primary school students took a break from World Cup fever last weekend to participate on Saturday in the Cumann na mBunscol county finals in Sr. Cullen Park where just like on the global stage there was a fair share of tears and cheers.

Ballinkillen won their first hurling title after a number of years and Old Leighlin won their first ever camogie title.

Champions Newtown/St. Mullins and Muinebheag were both dethroned and Leighlinbridge were the first ever champions of a new camogie division while Tullow won the Division 2 hurling title for the first time.

Borris . . . . 2-5

Muinebheag . .0-0

In the league section of the AIB hurling shield Muinebheag had beaten Borris and the first eight minutes saw the boys from both teams settling in and trying out each other s defence with wides from both teams but then in the ninth minute Borris got their goal scored by an in-form Derek Byrne.

Derek got his second score a few minutes later when he pointed and when Niall Murphy scored a point for Borris they were completely in control of the game putting tremendous pressure on the Muinebheag defence of Conor Cowman, Dermot Somers and PJ Canavan.

Despite the best efforts of defenders Ciaran Cunningham, Alan Corcoran and Shane Clarke, David Grennan broke through for Borris and scored their second goal.

The half time score was 2-2 to 0-0 and at the start of the second half Muinebheag peppered the Borris goal putting the pressure on the Borris backs Pat Byrne, Seamus Kelly, Denis Roche and Gary Kelly but very good block and stick work by Micheal Nolan and Richard Kelly kept them at bay. Derek Byrne and Brendan Bolger for Borris were excellent while Ricky English played a stormer for Muinebheag but the day belonged to Borris and it was a delighted David Grennan captain that accepted the Shield from Evan Hickey, AIB.

Borris: Richard Murphy, Pat Byrne, Seamus Kelly, Micheal Nolan, Denis Roche, Richard Kelly, Gary Kelly, Edward Byrne, Brendan Bolger 0-1, Gary Kavanagh, Derek Byrne 1-3, Niall Murphy 0-1, Michael Doyle, David Grennan 1-0, David Gorman, Graham Bolger, Liam Hayes, Raymond Cummins, Simon Byrne, George Donegan, Paul Kiernan, Jonathon Cummins, Seamus O Brien, James Ryan, Conor Walsh, Orey Williams.

Muinebheag: Darren Darcy, Conor Cowman, Dermot Somers, PJ Canavan, Ciaran Cunningham, Alan Corcoran, Shane Clarke, Peter Barron, Ricky English, James Doyle, Keith McDonald, Barry Lambe, Alan Beaton, John Kelly, Barry Doyle, Billy Clarke, Niall Walsh, Patrick Abbey, Roy Kent, Brian Hourihane, Conor Doyle, Sean Murphy, John Corcoran, Michael Dowling, Andrew Townsend, Damien Halligan, Darren Hickey, Justin Manning.

Monastery Boys Tullow . .3-3

Holy Family Askea . . . .3-2

The EBS Div. 2 HC Trophy final featured some of the high drama that is usually part and parcel of the Cumann na mBunscol finals. Tullow led at half time 2-1 to 0-0 and looked to be running away with the game until a determined Askea team came back in the second half and almost clinched a draw.

Anthony Moran opened the score for Tullow with a point after which Robert Keogh found the net and then Ronan Byrne got their second goal after a very poor clearance from the Askea defence.

All through the first half there was tremendous pressure on the Askea goalie Robbie Brennan who was excellent helped enormously by Enda McManus and Colm O Gorman. After the half time whistle was blown it seemed as if Askea were jet propelled with effort after effort thwarted by the Tullow players Paul Earle, David Cummins and Brian Condon.

Finally Askea were rewarded with a goal by Adam Flynn. Micheal Nash replied for Tullow with a point and then Askea s Brendan Murphy scored their second goal. With just two points between the teams a real encounter began. An impressive JJ Connolly scored a goal for Tullow while John Medcalfe one of Tullow s centrefield boys maintained his cool throughout and scored a point of his own at a vital period of the game.

For Askea Sean Meaney was always on top of his game and there were points from Conor Murray and Colm Quigley and before the final whistle Adam Flynn scored his second goal and Askea s third but Tullow took the title in a game of two halves that had more of an emphasis on ground hurling than rising, soloing or striking.

Tullow: Fiachra O Neill, William O Brien, Paul Earle, Brian Condon, Colin Kenny, Anthony Moran 0-1, John Medcalfe 0-1, Ronan Byrne 1-0, Micheal Nash 0-1, JJ Connolly 1-0, Mark Behan, Robert Keogh 1-0, Marcus McMahon, Robert Tobin, David Cummins, Conor Jackman, Gavin Byrne, Christopher Doran, Ruairi Nevin, Craig Mulhall, Darren O Toole.

Askea: Robbie Brennan, Darren Foley, Enda McManus, Colm O Gorman, Sean Farrell, Brendan Murphy 1-0, Aaron Bolger, Colm Quigley 0-1, Conor Murray 0-1, Eoin Byrne, Sean Meaney, Kevin Barrett, Michael Curtis, Adam Flynn 2-0, Shane Mahon, Adam Haughney, John Doyle, Corey Murphy, Stephen Reilly, Kevin Power.

Ballinkillen . . . . .3-5

Glynn . . . . . . . .3-3

Ballinkillen was one of two schools in two finals on Saturday, the camogie Division 2 final and also this Division 3 final.

Of all the games of hurling played on Saturday this game probably produced the finest hurlers on the day, which is understandable, as both schools represent areas rich in a tradition of hurling.

Ballinkillen are of course County senior champions and Glynn is situated in the parish of St. Mullins.

Glynn opened the scoring with a point from Michael Moloney and followed up with a second point from Paidi Kehoe before Thomas Bolton for Ballinkillen replied with a point of his own. Paidi got a second point and a goal from each team before half time left the score 1-3 to 1-1 in favour of Glynn.

Ballinkillen scored two goals immediately after the game resumed and positive positional changes resulted in a huge difference in Ballinkillen. Theresa Meaney who had just played an excellent game for the girls was brought into the forwards and David English who was taken out of the goal both scored in the second half.

Ballinkillen lifted their game and were still well served by players like Micheal Ryan, Daniel Mahon, Thomas Bolton, Marty Dalton and the Kinsellas Thomas and Padraig. Glynn will take some consolation from the fact that most of their players will still be in the school next year and will be hoping that players like Michael Moloney, Kevin Collins, Paidi Kehoe and Jim Murphy.