Scoil Mhuire na mBuachaillí Castleblayney
capture boys mini 7’s Gaelic football county title for 2nd year in a row.
At a time when the Monaghan flag is flying high in national circles with the Ulster championship and national league achievements the youth of our county are even more enthused with playing Gaelic football. At the Cumann na mBunscol Monaghan mini 7’s football finals held in Cloghan on Friday 4th April the hunger, passion and skill of our Primary schools was most evident.
Eight teams arrived in Cloghan having emerged from the Group stages in their regions intent on capturing the county title. The final Groups were drawn with Blayney Boys,Urbleshanny, Corracrin and Scoil Rois Carrickmacross in one section and Gransha, Latton, Loughmourne and Ballybay in the other.
With Urbleshanny accounting for Scoil Rois and Blayney defeating Corracrin in Round 1 the next game between the two winning sides in the second round was the crunch game and the Blayney boys emerged victorious on a scoreline of 6-5 to 1-4 and in the process giving the finest display of the day. Their interplay, passing, movement and score-taking was a joy to behold. In the last match of the Group stage Scoil Rois put on a tremendous display with one point separating the sides before Blayney’s late flourish saw them win 4-3 to 2-3.
The final saw the Blayney side pitched against the “ould enemy” of Ballybay reviving memories of famous battles past. The first half was a tremendously tight contest with both sides trading scores to leave Blayney leading by a point at half time 1-4 to 1-3.The Blayney scores came from Joshua Mone, Rory Mc Glynn, Conor Mulligan and Joseph Hughes. At the start of the second period the killer blows came from Joshua Mone and Conor Mulligan who slammed in two great goals breaking the narrow margin between the teams. With Conor Rice and Gearoid Coyle tight at the back and Ryan Mc Kernan very solid in goals the Blayney lads only conceded one point in the second half. Blayney themselves added a further goal and three points with Ciaran Duffy, Dean Rooney and Senan O Brien coming off the bench to seal off the game.
There was great celebrations at the final whistle with Master Mc Eneaney and Miss Aisling Connolly very proud of their charges. Adrian Kelly Chairperson of Cumann na mBunscol presented the two finalists with their plaques and Joseph Hughes gave a fine speech on behalf of the victorious Blayney side thanking everyone for their participation in a great day.