Primary Schools Finals: Baconstown best in score fest

BOYS DIV 3 Wilkinstown put up brave battle

What a contest this Boys Div 3 final turned out be with both teams giving it everything and conjuring up a little classic of an encounter in the process before Baconstown NS edged out Scol Naomh Barra by 6-9 to 3-3. The scorekeeper at Pairc Tailteann was certainly busy for this contest as the goals rolled in with both sides producing loads of attacking play to keep the attendance enthralled.

Baconstown certainly showed how to create and take their goals with six of their number managing to find the net. Cathal Flynn, Rhys King, Rory Pope, John Killoran, Ben Healy and Jayden Farrell all found the target during the course of this end-to-end encounter.

Healy also added on seven points for good measure, the majority of those from frees as he made a huge contribution to his team's victory.

Baconstown were certainly up for this game and that was shown in the way they got down to the task of winning the game right from the start. They were focused and sharp and at the interval they deservedly led 2-5 to 2-1. A further 1-2 without reply early in the second-half really set them on their way.

Not that the Wilkinstown side were slow to either create or take their chances. The score they did chalk up would be enough to win many games, they just found a Baconstown outfit in unstoppable form. Cian Bowens, Lauren Donegan and Darragh Cooney showed tremendous craft and awareness to find the net for Wilkinstown. Daire Lynch, Bowens and Gary Murphy all tagged on points also but there was not stopping Baconstown.

The winners had heroes all over the pitch with a strong defence, a creative midfield and a potent attacking all making up a powerful - and winning - combination.

Baconstown NS - Kyle Kavanagh; Cormac Dunne, Patrick Cleary; Michael Flynn, Cathal Flynn (1-0), Sam Kelly; Rhys King (1-1), John Killoran (1-1); Rory Pope (1-0), Ben Healy (1-7 five frees), Kealan Sharkey; Jayden Farrell (1-0), Daniel Lynam. Subs - Cillian Reilly, Will Doherty, Gareth Hughes, Ben Hanley, Ben Dixon, Ethan Beggs, Seán Enright. Mentor - Cathal Fenton.

Scoil Naomh Barra, Wilkinstown - Oisín Doughty; Darragh Cooney (1-0), Mark Boland; Charlie Olwill, Aaron McQuaid, Shane Cluskey; Cian Bowens (1-1), Gary Murphy (0-1); Tom Connelly, Dáire Lynch (1-0), Callum McKeever; Jac Leonard, Lauren Donegan (1-0). Subs - Moya Carroll, Donál Corbett, Darren McGarry, James Sheridan, Sam Reilly, Jack Matthews, Bobby Devlin, James Corrigan, Oliver McMahon. Mentors - James Minnock, Julianna Martyn.

Referee - Ronan Farrell (St Declan's Ashbourne).