Brack’ crack Tooreen’s hold on title 

Cumann na mBunscol Division 1 Hurling Final 

Brackloon NS 1-6 

Tooreen NS 0-1 

Stuart Tynan at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar 

Brackloon NS ended hopes of a Tooreen NS three-in-a-row to claim the school’s first Division 1 hurling title since 2023.

Indeed, these two hurling school powerhouses have met in the Division 1 decider the past four years running, and perhaps the familiarity of one another led to a low-scoring affair. However, the defending from both sides was top notch, with any scores throughout hard earned.

Eoin O’Raghallaigh, who scored 1-4 in last year’s decider for Brackloon, was on top form once again. Eoin, whose father Sean is a former chairman of Mayo GAA hurling and a two-time All-Ireland minor winner with his county, is certainly a chip off the old block and he stepped up hugely for his school in the second-half with four big points.

After both teams had registered some early wides, Eoin’s teammate Conor O’Regan opened the scoring in the final for Brackloon, while Tooreen’s first and only score of this final would not arrive until three minutes before the end of the first-half, through Tom Burke.

It looked like it would remain level at half-time, but Brackloon found the net a minute before the short whistle as Kevin Moran, who saw his initial shot blocked, got it right second time around to put the West Mayo school in front.

Tooreen looked for goals of their own early in the second-half, but Brackloon smothered the East Mayo side’s attack. Six minutes into the second-half, O’Raghallaigh made use of the strong wind now blowing at their backs for two excellent strikes from distance to extend their lead.

Tooreen kept plugging away but all avenues were blocked by a resolute Brackloon backline. Another two points from O’Raghallaigh and one from David Maloney in the final five minutes saw the Division 1 trophy return west for the first time in three years.

Brackloon NS: Ameila Ryan, David Maloney (0-1), Alice Burrows, Chloe Albers, Fiachra Walsh, Nathan Coady, Eoin O’Raghallaigh (0-4), Conor O’Regan (0-1), Ollie Kenny, DJ Bourke, Ella Broderick, Kevin Moran (1-0), Peter Maloney, Ruth Kelly, Fionn O’Raghallaigh, Rian Giblin Murray, Dylan Robertson, Ruairi O’Regan, Jack Keirns, Jase Foye, Aiden McDonnell.

Tooreen NS: Adrian Finn, Dean Gannon, Darragh Finn, Niall Greally, Gareth Finn, Karl, Grealy, Shay Coggeran, Tom Burke (0-1), Michael Gallagher, Liam Óg Gallagher, Eimear Freyne, Patrick Kenny, Kieran Herten, Eoghan Monaghan, Caoimhe Coggeran, Davi Fernandes de Oliveria, Oisin Curran, Conor Kelly, Mya Hickey, Ava O’Brien, Emma Robinson, Megan Olson, Katie Mae Gavin, Lily Healy, Oisin Nolan, Harry Carroll, Rhianna Hopkins, Ailish Healy, Roisin Reilly, Peppy Carroll.

REF: Eadhmonn MacSuibhne 

*Before the game, a moments silence was observed in memory of Jim Tunney, father of Brackloon NS principal Brendan.