The Abbey Vocational Schools team. Photo by Donegal GAA
2024 Masita All-Ireland Post Primary School Football Finals
Paddy Drummond Cup (Senior B Football)
Abbey Vocational School 1-15 Ashbourne Community School 0-9
Abbey Vocational School produced some outstanding football in the first half of their Paddy Drummond Cup decider against Ashbourne Community school, firing over ten points to establish a winning position that they maintained in spite of much stronger resistance from the Meath school after the interval.
Since St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, and De La Salle, Ballyshannon lifted this trophy back in 1979 and 1980, Donegal schools haven’t enjoyed any success at this level, but they came into this final on the back of a comprehensive win over Dunmore Community School in the semi-final, and carried that form into the opening half hour at St. Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
Two good points from play from Michael O’Sullivan pushed Ashbourne into an early 0-3 to 0-2 lead, but from then until half-time the Donegal town school rattled off eight unanswered. Conor Meehan was the leading scoring threat, but Aaron McGrory, Kevin Muldoon and Turlough Carr also found the target, as the McLarnon Cup holders moved through the gears.
Ashbourne needed a fast start to the second half and they got it too through O’Sullivan (two) and a Dylan Kettle free, but a host of wides hurt them dearly, and when Conor Meehan and Seanan Carr registered points, the resistance of the Meath team was effectively broken.
Once Turlough Carr set up Conor McCahill for the game’s only goal, Abbey knew they were in complete command, and a black card for Ashbourne captain Evan O’Kane allowed them to cruise through the closing stages of the contest.
Dr. Eamon O’Sullivan Cup (Senior C Football)
Tarbert Comprehensive School 3-19 St Malachy's, Castlewellan 4-13
(after extra time)
The Masita Post Primary Schools competitions are well-known for producing some of the most thrilling contests that are seen all year in both football and hurling, and this afternoon it was the students of Tarbert Comprehensive School and St. Malachy’s of Castlewellan who stole the show with an incredible 80-minute battle at Netwatch Cullen Park, culminating in the Kerry side edging the silverware by a goal.
There were periods of intense and competitive play that was evenly-contested, there were spells of real dominance for either time, St. Malachy’s produced a second half comeback that will live long in the memory of all who attended to send the game to extra time, and from there the North Kerry school showed class and composure to settle themselves once again and deliver the victory.
For the opening 30 minutes this was very much a counter-attacking contest, where Tarbert needed a fortunate goal from Jamie Moloney, and the disallowing of a St. Malachy’s goal at the other end, to go in level at 1-5 to 0-8.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Tarbert were utterly transformed. Team captain Shaun Wren helped build up towards his final tally of eight points with a string of scores, and when John Coolahan rattled the net after picking up the ball in the right corner and driving through two tacklers, it looked like the wind-assisted Tarbert students might win with plenty to spare, now leading by 2-13 to 0-8.
However, the response from St. Malachy’s was exemplary, with Eoghan Travers laying the ball off to rampaging midfielder Taidhg O’Hanlon for a green flag in response, and with that glimmer of light in their sight, St. Malachy’s kicked on in style.
Daire Trainor fired in one goal from a tight angle to keep them alive, then quick-fire strikes from Travers and James Savage actually edged them one up, before Wren nailed a 45 to send the game to extra time at 2-15 to 4-9.
The contest was still level until the last few minutes, when another point from Wren and Coolahan’s second goal of the contest settled one of the best games of the year so far in favour of Tarbert Comprehensive School.
Br. Edmund Ignatius Rice Cup (Senior D Football)
Gallen Community School 0-9 Scoil Mhuire Buncrana 1-5
Markievicz Park was the scene for a remarkable turnaround victory for West Offaly side Gallen Community School, as they overcame a dreadfully slow start to reel in Scoil Mhuire of Buncrana, taking the lead for the first and final time in the 60th minute through Senan Hanniffy’s fourth dead ball score of the afternoon.
The Inishowen students were in sensational form in the opening quarter, surging into a 1-3 to no score lead. Shaunie Bradley showed great improvisation to get their goal while Seán McLaughlin and Billy Duffy kicked some fine points, but it was in their general play in the middle third where they were the most impressive. Aaron Cleary, Conor Graham and Andrew Davidson were very strong, with county starts Elliot Friel (minor) and Oisín McIntyre (U-20) picking up a lot of ball at the back and launching attacks.
However they failed to push on, kicking five first half wides, and two points for Brian Carroll and Jake Maher before half-time put Gallen right back in it, with the goal between the teams at half-time.
A stunning goal-line clearance from Oisín McIntyre to deny a Gallen goal was followed by points from Dónal Óg O’Brien and Friel to make it 1-5 to 0-4 going into the final quarter, but by now Gallen were much more tenacious and energetic up front, and with team captain and county U-20 hurler Conor Grennan coming into the game at midfield, they gradually put the squeeze on. Luke Kelly kicked two points and set up another for Lee Moore in a man of the match performance, before Hanniffy showed great composure to kick the winning score in the last minute of normal time.
