Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Five-star Bell rings true for Ballivor
DEVELOPING HURLING SHIELD: St Columbanus Ballivor 9-9 St Seachnall's NS Dunshaughlin 2-3
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Michael Colgan in action for St Columbanus NS, Ballivor during the Developing Schools Hurling final against St Seachnaill’s. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
St. Columbanus NS, Ballivor players (from left) were: back - Kaiden Boyne, Chloe Carney, Cillian Forde, Jamie Bell, Justin Flynn, Evan Kelly, Darragh O`Riordan, Reuben Loran, Dylan Swaine Ayres; front - Jake Keegan, Iarla O`Riordan, Elizabeth Colgan, Odhrán Cunningham, Michael Colgan, Jack Ryan, Oisín O`Riordan, Darren Darby, Cian Lennon. David MullenImage 3 of 5
The St Seachnall’s players (from left) were: back - Éanna O`Callaghan, Shane O`Reilly, Jack Flood, Luke Hughes, Shane Hegarty, Ryan Sheridan, Sean O`Connor, Clodagh O`Meara, Eppie Delaney, Khloe Englishby; front - Bobby McGrath, Cian McGrath, Philip Desain-Gelinet, Caolan Murphy, Tadhg Flood, Ollie Reilly, Mark Lee, Rory Bracken, Patrick Traynor, Éanna O`Donnell. David MullenImage 4 of 5
(Right St Columbanus NS’s Odhrán Cunningham received the Spirit of the Final award from the Meath Chronicle’s Tom Gannon (left) and Cumann na mBunscol’s Frank Reidy. Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 5
St Columbanus NS, Ballivor captain Jamie Bell received the Developing Schools Shield from Cumann na mBunscol Leinster Council rep Frank Reidy. Gerry ShanahanSt Columbanus NS were very impressive winners of the Developing Shield final in the first game of day one at the Meath Cumann na mBunscol finals in Trim.
The Ballivor side saw off St Seachnall's Dunshaughlin in the final, who despite their very best efforts were thwarted by an excellent defensive display from the players in maroon.
Down the other end, the midfield partnership of Jamie Bell and Odhran Cunningham ran the show for St Columbanus. Bell kicked off proceedings with a goal inside the opening minute. St Seachnall's responded with a goal of their own from Cian McGrath before a second from Bell and one from Cunningham handed Ballivor a 3-0 to 1-0 lead after only six minutes. Evan Kelly also got in on the action in the 12th minute to put St Columbanus 4-2 to 1-0 ahead.
St Seachnall's pulled a goal back when Mark Lee's long-range effort gave Justin Flynn in the St Columbanus net no chance. However, from here, St Columbanas dominated the last seven minutes of the half and hit 4-3 in a row as Bell found the net another three times to bring his first-half tally up to 5-2. At the interval, St Columbanus led 8-5 to 2-0.
Credit to St Seachnall's, their never-say-die attitude made the second-half a more competitive affair. However, Cunningham continued to cause issues for the Dunshaughlin side and he hit 1-3 of St Columbanus' second-half tally of 1-4 to ensure a comfortable victory for the Ballivor side.
St Columbanus NS Ballivor - Justin Flynn; Iarla O’Riordan, Jack Ryan, Reuben Loran, Elizabeth Colgan; Jamie Bell (5-4 one free), Odhrán Cunningham (3-5 one free); Cillian Forde, Darren Darby, Michael Colgan, Evan Kelly (1-1). Subs - Kian Glennon, Darragh O’Riordan, Chloe Carney, Oisín O’Riordan, Dylan Swaine Ayres, Jake Keegan, Kaiden Boyne. Mentors - Laura Doherty, Lee Mulligan.
St Seachnall’s NS, Dunshaughlin - Jack Flood; Shane O’Reilly, Seán O’Connor, Philip Desain-Gelinet, Shane Hegarty, Luke Hughes (0-1 one free), Éanna O’Callaghan (0-1 one free); Bobby McGrath, Mark Lee (1-0), Cian McGrath (1-1), Éanna O’Donnell. Subs - Caolan Murphy, Rory Bracken, Patrick Traynor, Tadhg Flood, Ollie Reilly, Indie McCormack, Jan Daly, Ryan Sheridan, Khloe Englishby, Rachel Walsh, Clodagh O’Mara, Eppie Delaney, Harry McCarthy. Mentors - Barry Murphy, Ettie Philip, Liam MacNamara.
Referee - Chris Lynagh (St Paul’s NS, Navan).