Ballagh’ boys happy to ‘B’ champions
St Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen celebrate Friday night's victory in the final of the Connacht Post Primary Schools senior 'B' football championship. They enjoyed a five points win against St Joseph's College, Galway.
St Nathy’s College were crowned senior ‘B’ champions of Connacht for the first time since 2018 as their third quarter surge allied with their composure down the stretch saw them overcome a gutsy St Joseph’s College.
After the Ballaghaderreen-based school lost this final in 2020 and 2022, this was a sweet triumph for everyone associated with St Nathy’s. That defeat in 2020 came at the hands of St Joseph’s as the winners gained revenge for that final reversal.
Despite being under the cosh for periods of the first-half, St Nathy’s led 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time following Roscommon minor James Cassidy’s goal in the 20th minute. That goal was created by a sumptuous pass from Dean Casey as the Connacht minor winner in 2025 was outstanding in the first-half before kicking key scores in the second period despite battling cramp late on.
Ryan O’Sullivan pushed Casey hard for being the best player on show as he kicked four classy points from play while midfield pairing Oran Frain and Sean Buckley were heavily influential throughout.
St Nathy’s possessed the greater quality up front but it was their efficiency and their opponent’s lack thereof in the first period that proved pivotal. Ronan Brett and Colm Maye’s side kicked just one wide in the opening half compared to their opponent’s five, while St Joseph’s were also guilty of dropping efforts into the grateful arms of Roscommon U20 goalkeeper Patrick Gaynor.
Throw in a goal chance for Bish midfielder Darragh Kelly that Gaynor thwarted in the seventh minute and it was easy to see why Brian Madden’s side will identify that opening half as crucial in their ultimate demise.
St Nathy’s had gone from 0-3 to 0-2 down after 19 minutes to lead by three at half-time. The momentum they generated before the break grew even greater upon the resumption of play. The Ballaghaderreen side plundered 1-1 inside the opening two minutes of the second-half as Dylan Casey pointed before he and Conor Moriarty, who was full forward for the Mayo minors in 2024, combined to tee up Kilmovee Shamrocks’ Oran Frain who unleashed a rasping effort to the roof of the net.
Even though Shane Rather produced a composed finish to the onion sack for St Joseph’s, a Casey free and two efforts from the pacy Ryan O’Sullivan left the winners 2-8 to 1-4 ahead at the three quarter mark. Ultimately, that burst proved enough despite St Joseph’s College, who lost Galway minor forward Eoin Gacquin to injury, momentarily making this a one score game when sub Noah Gill kicked a superb outside of the boot effort before Casey sealed the deal.
The early stages of this contest was an accurate snapshot of how the first period would play out. The Bish squandered two scorable chances before Casey slotted a free in St Nathy’s’ first meaningful venture forward. Even though the Bish were ahead 0-3 to 0-2 after 19 minutes, they had exerted a considerable toll in building such a slender margin.
Conor Langan-Monaghan kicked two early points but St Nathy’s were able to cut down on turnovers in their own half which gradually reduced the supply of ball to the full-forward. Winning a greater volume of ball in midfield and getting Dean Casey heavily involved clicked them into gear.
After a patient attack in the 20th minute, Casey produced a sublime ball in behind for fellow James Cassidy, who juggled possession before palming the ball beyond the advancing Aaron Hester. This kickstarted a run of 1-2 without reply as Casey teed up Conor Moriarty to score before Ryan O’Sullivan arrowed over.
Jack Watson struck over a badly needed score for the Galway school, but St Nathy’s still led 1-4 to 0-4 at the change of ends. The victors took control in the third quarter as Frain’s major temporarily moved his side seven points in front. Even though Shane Rather hit back, a Casey free and two classy efforts from Ryan O’Sullivan left St Nathy’s in control.
Ronan Brett and Colm Maye’s side sought to bleed the clock for much of the final quarter but in doing so, took the edge out of their attack. The Bish began to pile forward as they fought valiantly to give themselves a glimmer of hope.
Dillon Gacquin kicked two neat efforts while a David Kilraine minor and a Rather score suddenly left just three points between the sides after 56 minutes. But, St Nathy’s found the answers when needed most as Sean Buckley produced an excellent pass to substitute Noah Gill, who kicked the score of the game with the outside of his right boot, to re-establish a two score lead.
The St Nathy’s defence stifled their foes thereafter before Gill teed up Casey to kick the insurance score. A Connacht title secured and an All-Ireland semi-final against Cork’s Mount Saint Michael Rosscarbery to come. Exciting times for St Nathy’s.
Scorers – St Nathy’s College: Dean Casey (2f) and Ryan O’Sullivan 0-4 each, James Cassidy and Oran Frain 1-0 each, Conor Moriarty and Noah Gill 0-1 each.
St Joseph’s College: Shane Rather 1-2, Dillon Gacquin and Conor Langan-Monaghan 0-2 each, Jack Watson and David Kilraine 0-1 each.
St Nathy’s College: Patrick Gaynor; Harry Dooney, Liam Boyle, James Kilroy; James Cassidy, Declan Duffy, Patrick O’Dowd; Oran Frain, Sean Buckley; James Puncheon, Dean Casey, Aaron Duffy; Conor Moriarty, Micheál McTighe, Ryan O’Sullivan. Subs: Paudi Gilligan (for O’Dowd 39), Noah Gill (for Duffy 39), Cian Gallagher (for Kilroy 54), Ronan McGarry (for Boyle 59).
St Joseph’s College: Aaron Hester; Adam Hayat, Finn Plotner-McCarthy, Daniel Cormican; Jack Watson, Marc Beatty, Aaron Hayat; Dillon Gacquin, Darragh Kelly; Louis Gannon, Shane Rather, Michael Monaghan; Eoin Gacquin, Conor Langan-Monaghan, David Kilraine. Subs: Michael Mitchell (for Monaghan 36), Dara McGauran (for Eoin Gacquin 41), Lukas Lydon (for Kilraine 57), Mark Gillespie (for Gannon 57).
REF: Ian Monaghan (Roscommon)
