Allianz Cumann na mBunscol ‘A’ Hurling Championship Final. The Primate Cup. Corn an Phríomháidh.
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste defeat St John the Baptist Primary School.
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste completed a remarkable Top Tier Championship ‘Double’ when they defeated St John the Baptist in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Corn an Phríomháidh/Primate Cup Hurling Final. Just 2 weeks previous, the Shaw’s Road Gaelscoil, in its 50th year, lifted the famous Raffo Cup ‘A’ Football Championship, defeating St Anne’s. This time it was the turn of the Bunscoil Senior Hurlers who had come through their semi-final with victory over their Raffo Cup final opponents St Anne’s. St John the Baptist came through a competitive semi-final against former Champions, Holy Child and both they and Bunscoil Phobal Feirste faced off for the ‘A’ Championship on a glorious June afternoon at Rossa Park.
It was a festival of hurling on Shaw’s Road and Lenadoon as the three clubs of Ó Donabháin Rossa, Naomh Pól and Sarsfields all graciously provided their facilities for the business end of the tournaments, hosting the A, B and C Semi-Finals as well as the Finals on a glorious day for Hurling in the West of the City. The day was brilliantly coordinated by Antrim Cumann na mBunscol and supported once more by the ever-present Gaelfast team who were on hand to help officiate and ensure the day went smoothly.
What was all the more remarkable was that it was a Gaelscoil ‘treble’ of championships as Bunscoil Phobal Feirste lifted the ‘A’ Championship defeating St John the Baptist at Rossa Park, Gaelscoil Éanna lifted the ‘B’ defeating St Teresa’s at Páirc Naomh Pól (completing their own ‘B’ championship double, having lifted the Carragher Cup Football title a few weeks previously) and Scoil na Fuiseoige lifted the ‘C’ championship defeating St Mary’s on the Hill at Patrick Sarsfields.
In the Corn an Phríomháidh ‘A’ final, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste who came through their semi-final against a great St Anne’s team, started the final where they had left off at the semi-final- at a blistering pace, opening up an early lead with goals from Naomh Pól’s Sean Mac Mullan (who finished with a personal tally of 3-1 from full forward), Ó Donabháin Rosa’s Codhrán Ó Ruairc and Naomh Gall’s Pádraig Kelly, who also was deadly accurate from the dead-ball, scoring 0-7 from frees. The tenacious defending of Naomh Eoin’s Odhrán Marley, Naomh Pól’s Cónán Digney, Naomh Gall’s Eoin Shannon and Naomh Éanna’s Caoimhín Mac Cafraigh as well as top quality net-minding from Creggan Kickham’s Harry McKay, ensured that Bunscoil Phobal Feirste would finish the final victorious. Midfield running from Rossa’s Ó Ruairc and Naomh Gall’s Emmet Hartigan alongside his clubmate Pádraig Kelly helped ensure that the relentless pace never let up and the accuracy of McKay’s puck-outs provided a brilliant platform for Bunscoil attacks with a succession of clean catches being made from McKay’s precision restarts. St John the Baptist responded with frees to keep them in touch but goals before half-time from midfielders Hartigan and Ó Ruairc ensured a big half-time lead which the Shaw’s Road Gaels never relinquished.
In a very competitive final, it was to be the goals which proved the difference as Bunscoil Phobal Feirste and their colourful Support in the stands celebrated at the final whistle. A great day’s hurling with the weather more than playing it’s part and another great advertisement for local primary school’s GAA in the city and county.
