Gaelscoil's five-star display secures county hurling crown
Gaelscoil de Búrca Claremorris who defeated St Colmcilles The Quay NS Westport in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Division 2 County Hurling Final. Picture: Michael Donnelly
A tremendous display by Gaelscoil de Búrca’s Leo Ó Cionaoith powered them to the Division 3 Hurling time over The Quay NS at a rain-trodden MacHale Park last Monday afternoon.
Gaelscoil de Búrca got the opening point through a Leo Ó Cionaoith free but The Quay struck back with 1-1. The goal came after Moses Gibbons put great pressure on the Gaelscoil de Búrca backline, who struggled to get the small ball away. The goalkeeper Evan Ó Catháin was unable to puck the ball away and Gibbons blocked it down and into the net.
The Quay captain followed it up with a free, but the Claremorris school would score 2-2 without reply. Leo Ó Cionaoith and Liam Mac Tomáis, a free, brought them back to within a point before a brilliant ball by Mac Tomáis’s diagonal ball picked out Jonah Ó Domhnaill and he sturck his shot into the net.
Tristan Monaghan was having a heroic performance between the sticks, denying Gaelscoil de Búrca another three goal opportunities with great saves and he was unfortunate when Gaelscoil de Búrca got their second goal before half-time when he blocked another strike on goal by Mac Tomais but was unable to prevent it going over the line as Gaelscoil de Búrca led 2-3 to 1-1 at half-time.
There was no let up from Gaelscoil de Búrca, who would strike another 3-3 without reply. Leo Ó Cionaith was the main man as hit 1-3, the goal arriving five minutes into the second half, before Oscar and Conor Ó Murchú both pilfered majors into the net.
To their credit, The Quay kept battling and got the final score of the game through a long range free by Ben McLoughlin, but the day and the title belonged to the skilled young hurlers from south Mayo.
