Primary Schools Finals: Carlanstown cling on in classic clash
BOYS DIV 3
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Carlanstown NS’s Shay Farrell escapes the challenges of Scoil Cholmcille Skryne’s Tom Larkin and Danny Clarke during Sunday’s Boys Div 3 final at Trim. Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net David MullenImage 2 of 5
Carlanstown NS captains Alex Sweeney and Tom Moriarty receive the Boys Div 3 Cup from Mickey Newman. David MullenImage 3 of 5
Carlanstown NS’s Conor Briody receives the Spirit of the Final award from Meath Chronicle’s Tom Gannon. David MullenImage 4 of 5
The Carlanstown NS players (from left) were: back - Tom Moriarty, Alex Pajak, Philip Simurka, Conor McEntee, Kai Seenan McConnell, Alex Sweeney, Victor Ferreira, Finn O’Sullivan, Ryan Gaffney, Leachlainn O’Connell, Conor Briody; front - Jack Clarke, Alex Duffy, Cormac Briody, Charlie Smith, Shay Farrell, Shaun O’Rourke, Noah Foster, Leo Grogan, Prince Bokunde, Luca Farrell, Ryan Sweeney. David MullenImage 5 of 5
The Scoil Cholmcille Skryne players (from left) were: back - Hugh Donnelly, Riley Walsh, Cian Lynch, Odhran McDonnell, Tom Grennan, Naoise Reuter, Cian Murphy, Ben Gibbons, Michael Looby, Danny Clarke, Nathan Battigan, Páidí Dardis, Alfie Nelson, Darragh Kealey, Tom Larkin, Daniel Rogan, Aaron Brangan; front - Casey Walsh, Ollie Moore, Charlie Naughton, Gabriel Nugent, Conor Hogan, Lochlann Abbott, Ryan Fahy, Harry Duffy, James Deegan, Jeff O’Farrell, Conor Gavin, Senan O’Bric. David MullenIn what was a contender for the most exciting contest of all the 2025 finals, Carlanstown just edged out Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne in the Div 3 decider at Trim on Sunday afternoon.
Hitting 1-4 on the spin just after half-time was crucial to Carlanstown’s success.
The sides traded blows in the early exchanges but with the wind at their backs, Scoil Cholmcille seized momentum in the second quarter. After Noah Foster was forced to make an unbelievable save to deny Alfie Nelson, Scoil Cholmcille hit six points on the spin, three of which came from the boot of Nelson. At the break, Scoil Cholmcille led 0-8 to 0-3.
Carlanstown came out after the restart with intent and hit 1-4 on the spin. Ryan Sweeney's goal followed some lovely scores from Tom Moriarty and Conor Briody.
For a large portion of the second-half, Carlanstown largely restricted the Skryne side and with five minutes left, they led by 1-13 to 0-10.
JJ Cowley gave Scoil Cholmcille hope when he found the back of the net and soon after Naoise Reuter’s bullet goal from a free ensured a grandstand finish.
However, Carlanstown didn't panic and two super points from Briody got them over the line.
Carlanstown NS - Noah Foster; Philip Simurka, Alex Duffy; Finn O’Sullivan, Tom Moriarty (0-5 two frees, two ‘45’s), Kai Seenan McConnell; Alex Sweeney (0-2), Conor Briody (0-6); Shaun O’Rourke, Conor McEntee (0-1), Shay Farrell (0-1); Ryan Sweeney (1-0), Cormac Briody. Subs - Charlie Smith, Leachlainn O’Connell, Leo Grogan, Ryan Gaffney, Luca Farrell, Alex Pajak, Jack Clarke, Victor Ferreira, Prince Bokunde. Mentors - Claire Allen, Tommy Moriarty.
Scoil Cholmcille Skryne - Danny Rogan; Tom Larkin, Nathan Battigan; Danny Clarke, Cian Murphy, Senan O Bric; Michael Looby (0-1), Ben Gibbons; Tom Greenan (0-1), Alfie Nelson (0-4 one free), Darragh Kealey; Páidí Dardis (0-1), Naoise Reuter (1-3, 1-2 frees). Subs - Charlie Naughton, JJ Cowley (1-0), Odhran McDonnell, Conor Gavin, Cian Lynch, Casey Walsh, Riley Walsh, Ryan Fahy, Gabriel Nugent, Aaron Brangan, Ollie Moore, Charlie Stone, Jeff O’Farrell, James Keegan, Harry Duffy, Conor Hoban, Taavi Ehijator, Artem Myroshnykov, Lochlann Abbott, Hugh Donnelly. Mentors - Michael Newman, Tom Brennan, Gráinne Harrington.
Referee - John Byrne.