Marc O’Connell goal sparks celebrations for St Mary’s

Daire Walsh

There was unbridled joy for St Mary’s NS, Garristown at Croke Park yesterday as their boys and girls sides completed a memorable double on a hectic day of Allianz Cumann na mBunscol action.

With 32 football teams competing in 16 finals, it was a day of contrasting emotions, but for the North County Dublin school, some lasting memories were created.

Playing at the same time as two other deciders at Jones’ Road, second-half goals from Jack Gormley and the excellent Marc O’Connell helped the Mary’s boys to secure the Corn an Cheid title at the expense of Scoil Chiarain CBS, Donnycarney.

Triumph

The Garristown outfit had to dig deep before emerging victorious in this game, but the Corn na Laoch trophy was secured in more comprehensive fashion, a brace of early majors by Tomi Onasoga and Ally Gormley easing Mary’s towards a 12-point triumph (3-7 to 0-4).

Elsewhere, a Daniel Hawkshaw hat-trick proved decisive in the Sciath Kitterick showpiece for Scoil Bhríde Castleknock, who edged a 12-goal thriller against Drimnagh Castle CBS.

Josh Doyle finished with an outstanding personal tally of 4-3 in St Anne’s, Fettercain’s Corn Matt Griffin meeting with Scoil Martin de Porres, Aylesbury, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Tallaght side, for whom Fionn Murray produced an inspirational display.

Their neighbours, Sacred Heart, Killinarden, were on the receiving end of a comprehensive reversal (2-9 to 0-1) to Scoil Mologa in the Corn Irish Rubies decider, however, and despite raising four green flags through Adam Moore (two), Aidan Joyce and Hugh Mac Neill, St Anne’s, Shankill came off second best to Sciath Mhic Coillte opponents, Scoil Lorcain.

St Joseph’s BNS, Terenure (whose past pupils include All-Ireland winners Paul Curran, Brian Stynes, Denis Bastick and Eoghan O’Gara) stayed in contention in the Sciath na nGearaltach Shield courtesy of first-half goals from Jamie Brennan, Eoin Kelly and Harry McWalters, but with the deadly duo of Patrick Sherwin and Cian Taheny registering a combined total of 3-7, St Michael’s, Ballsbridge prevailed.

Terenure College JS had better fortune in the Corn Chumann Na nGael competition, and even though a dramatic last-minute free by Divine Word, Rathfarnham’s Luke Cullen ensured the sides ended on level terms, it was decided that the trophy would be shared.

After a pulsating day of play, it was left to St Patrick’s Ringsend and Queen Of Angels, Wedgewood to bring the curtain down on Day One of the Dublin Primary School Finals. Unfortunately, this Sciath An Choigiltis encounter was a one-sided affair, with five goals from corner-forward Evan Kelch providing the platform for a commanding 7-10 to 1-1 Patrick’s success.