Lecanvey’s long wait ends with title joy for Mount Palmer
The Mount Palmer NS boys team from Kilfian after their defeat of Lecanvey NS who appeared in their first final since the 1988/89 season. Picture: Michael Donnelly
A first county final appearance in almost 40 years ended in bitter disappointment for Lecanvey National School, who fell to the narrowest of defeats in last Tuesday’s very exciting final of the Cumann na mBunscol Division 5 Boys Championship.
Not since the 1988/89 season had the boys from the west coast reached the county decider, but they played like they belonged here, pushing Mount Palmer all the way in a pulsating game that right down to the wire.
Kilfian-based Mount Palmer were appearing in their sixth final, having already been crowned champions on four occasions.
The game was tightly contested from the outset. Cian McDonnell and Ethan Walsh exchanged two frees each in a competitive opening seven minutes before Mount Palmer gradually gained the upper-hand in possession and added valuable points through Shay O’Boyle (three) and Joseph Schuster to lead 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time.
The North Mayo outfit started the second-half strongly too, with Shay O’Boyle netting an early goal. However, Lecanvey responded superbly when Bodhi Heneghan found the net in the 14th minute. Moments later, Mount Palmer were denied a second goal by an outstanding diving save from Lecanvey goalkeeper Cathal Toland.
With the game on a knife-edge, Bodhi Heneghan struck again for Lecanvey, raising another green flag to level the scores. As the clock ticked down, either side looked capable of winning but in the end, it was Mount Palmer who showed the greater composure. Cian McDonnell stepped up with a crucial late point to seal a dramatic victory and deliver the coveted silverware to his team.
Mount Palmer NS: Jack Ruddy, Jospeh Schuster (0-1), Ashley O’Boyle, Nathan Flannery, Cian McDonnell (0-6, 2f), Gerard McHale, Zoe Munnelly, Shay O’Boyle (1-3), Devin Moyles, Tom McDonnell, Finnán Gilvarry, David Kileen Kelly, Matthew Flannery, Dannan O’Grady, Pearse McGinty Wills, Dearbhla Carroll, Kitty McDonnell, Amber Butler, Aoibhinn Gardiner, Agnes Murphy, Sadie Whelan, Ellie Moore, Tegan Moyles.
Lecanvey NS: Bodhi Heneghan (2-0), Cathal Toland, Ethan Gill (0-1), Ethan Walsh (0-4, 3f), Patrick Walsh (0-1f), Noah Harvey-Wojciak, Adam Poillot, Charlie Gray, Dylan Gill, Mikey Locke, Eddie Geraghty, Cathal Geraghty, Archie Scahill.
REF: John Walker
