'Winning an All-Ireland with your closest friends was a brilliant feeling'

Spirits were high on Monday last when the Western People visited Mount St Michael Secondary School, home of the All-Ireland B Senior Football champions.

“It was a brilliant feeling winning the All-Ireland with your closest friends. It was a day we’ll never forget," said team captain, Síomha McNulty, summing it all up so succinctly.

It was poignant that Síomha would mention friendship in her opening remarks. The camaraderie of the students and teachers at the school has always been evident to this observer. In a previous life, I met students from the school as they rehearsed and performed their annual school musical. There was always an aura of unity of purpose and a bond of friendship evident, I always felt. And they were always impeccably behaved. They were a credit to themselves, their parents, their teachers and the school. And to hear Síomha speak of friendship within the team reinforces this belief.

The school won the title in 2010 and were runners-up in the competition in 2022.

“We left the school at eleven o’clock,” Síomha said, “which gave us a bit of time before the match to settle in, have a walk around the pitch and do our warm-up. It was a windy day, but we just got on with the game.” 

Joint team manager, Emma Galligan, said the players were very calm on the day.

“Some of them had played in the 2022 final (against Coláiste Oiriall of Monaghan),” Emma said. “I think that added to the calmness in the team before and during the match. And many of the players have enjoyed big game experience with Mayo. That helped too.” 

Emma said that the team didn’t do much different in training as they progressed through the competition.

“There was a bigger turnout and more intensity from the players at training,” Emma said. “We just told them that the games were the same, it was just that the prize on offer for each match was bigger. We made the same preparations; we used the same bus; things like that.” 

 Síomha said there was a rush of supporters onto the pitch at the final whistle.

“All of our families came out onto the pitch at the final whistle and we celebrated with them,” Síomha said. “Then, when we got back to Claremorris, there was a homecoming celebration for us at the school. There was a big crowd to welcome us. There were a lot people in the street and the fire brigade was out. It was a great atmosphere. But I don’t think it has sunk in fully, yet."

“Life went on very quickly,” Emma said. “Síomha and Bree (Hession) went off to Waterford on a bus with the Mayo team on Saturday, and some more of the girls had minor semi-finals on Sunday morning. And there were confirmations on Saturday, so it has been very hectic.” 

Síomha said the girls hadn’t a minute to sit down and think about it all.

Caoilinn Walsh scored Mount St Michael’s all-important goal in the final.

“As a corner forward, you have to be ready for any kind of ball that comes in and anticipate everything,” Caoilinn said. “I was lucky enough to be in the right position at the right time. Aisling Cummins made a great run through and her ball dropped short and I was in there to get the toe-poke. 

"I was buzzing after it. In the opening ten minutes, we were under a lot of pressure and the goal got our momentum going and lifted us up.” 

Emma said that Mayo senior men's player, Jack Coyne, came into the school for a training session, and Claremorris manager, Johnny Cummins helped too.

“It was nice to get the variety,” she noted. “It gave us other perspectives. We have 32 players on our panel. We’d have 30 at training, twice a week. It was amazing to have that many at training. Caoilinn’s goal came from something we had worked on repeatedly in training drills; it was nice to see it coming off in a game – especially the final.” 

School principal, Ciarán Ryan, said it was a very significant and proud moment for the school.

“It’s a testament to the panel,” Ciarán said, “everyone plays their part. It’s a testament to the girls – to their commitment, their drive and their dedication over successive years. This team has been progressing through competitions on the way to senior. 

"I want to pay tribute to the two main coaches, Laura Brogan and Emma Galligan, and also Rhea Cox and Caoimhe O’Toole and Johnny Cummins who were all involved as well. We won it in 2010 and to win it a second time is huge. It is a big country with a lot of schools. It is significant for the school and the town and the feeder clubs. 

"I want to pay tribute to all the volunteerism that goes on in the clubs, a lot of the preparatory work is done there. All that volunteerism within the GAA, the clubs and the school, brought our All-Ireland success. It’s a very proud moment for all, for the girls to win an All-Ireland.” 

While he was reluctant to name any individual, Ciarán thanked the business community and the parent body for their support, describing them as “very generous”. Ciarán said that statistics proved a positive link between sporting and academic success.

“Statistically, students that are involved in sport and extra-curricular activity do better academically,” Ciarán said. “The skills that students develop through sport, like determination, drive, commitment and dedication, can all correlate to academic performance as well.” 

 Knockmore woman, Laura Brogan, is the other joint manager of the team.

“There were no rows on the sideline about who is going to play where or any switches to be made,” Laura said. “We would have discussions, but no rows! This year was really hard because we have 32 girls, all of whom could have started in the final, and it was really, really hard to come to a decision to pick 15 starters. In that way, we are very lucky because the girls make it demanding by fighting for their place on the team.” 

The team draws its players from Claremorris, Davitts, Hollymount Carramore, Aghamore and Kilmaine LGFA clubs. While the team didn’t have any foreign exchange students this time around, the team that reached the 2022 final included a girl from Germany, who took a runners-up medal back to her home country.