Primary Schools Finals: St Brigid's survive storm to see off St Michael's
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St Brigid’s Tadhg McConnell is challenged by St Michael’s Cora Cosgrave during Sunday’s Meath Primary Schools Boys Div 5 final at Stamullen. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
The Meath Hill NS players (from left) were: back - Niall Curtis, Aaron McCabe, Shay Owens, Jamie Maher, James Tuite, Liam Sheridan, Daíthí Byrne; front - Aaron Clarke, Ryan Kieran, Thomas Breslin, Tadhg McConnell, Daniel Carolan, Seán Óg Leggett, Joseph Mullen. Photo: David Mullen-www.cyberimages.net David Mullen www.cyberimages.netImage 3 of 5
St. Michael’s NS Kill players (from left) were: back - Kaydan Doherty, Bramble Sheridan, Finn Mulcahy, Teddy Kinsella Phillips, Sam Hayes, Ryan Maher, Bill O’Halloran, Eve Doyle, Ellen Doherty, Conor Finnegan; front - Donnacha Forde, Regan Doherty, Josh Farrell, Tadhg Cosgrave, Cora Cosgrave, John Forde, Kyron Skerry, James Regan, Esmée Dempsey. David Mullen www.cyberimages.netImage 4 of 5
St Brigid’s NS captain Liam Sheridan receives the Boys Div 5 Cup from Shane Mulvany. Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 5
St Michael’s NS’s Cora Cosgrave receives the Spirit of the Final award from the Meath Chronicle’s Tom Gannon. Gerry ShanahanSt Brigid’s NS 2-7
St Michael’s NS 2-3
St Brigid’s NS, Meath Hill weathered a third-quarter storm from St Michael’s NS, Kill and finished strong to claim the Meath Primary Schools Boys Div 5 title in Stamullen on Sunday.
Aaron McCabe was prominent for St Brigid’s. His link-up play, strong running and well-taken scores were crucial to his side's success. Tadgh McConnell had a great game for the winners in the full-back line while Daniel Carolan raised a brace of green flags.
Sam Hayes and Teddy Kinsella Phillips were strong in the middle third for the Rathmolyon school while Cora and Tadgh Cosgrave caused a lot of issues for the St Brigid’s defence in the full-forward line.
St Brigid’s raced into a four point lead after nine minutes. Three of those scores came from the boot of McCabe. St Michael’s pulled two points back through Hayes and Kinsella Phillips. In the 17th minute, a McCabe free dropped short but Carolan was first to react and he finished the ball to the net.
Two minutes later, McCabe followed up with a nicely taken point and that gave St Brigid’s a convincing half-time lead of 1-5 to 0-2. St Michael’s responded well after the restart and began to string together some lovely passages of play.
Jamie Maher in the St Brigid’s goals did very well to deny Tadhg Cosgrove a goal opportunity. The full forward was handed another chance two minutes later and this time he did rattle the back of the net to reduce the gap back to three points.
Kinsella Phillips followed up with a nice free before St Michael's captain Ryan Maher dropped a long-range free into the net for his side's second goal which edged them ahead. That was as good as it got for St Michael’s as St Brigid’s regained the advantage with two frees from McCabe and Ryan Kiernan.
Carolan completed his brace with four minutes left. Maher pulled off another crucial save to deny Tadgh Cosgrove again and St Brigid’s closed out the contest well.
St Brigid’s NS Meath Hill: Jamie Maher; Tadhg McConnell, Liam Sheridan; Aaron Clarke, Niall Curtis; Shay Owens, Aaron McCabe (0-5 two frees); James Tuite, Ryan Kieran (0-2 frees); Daniel Carolan (2-0), Thomas Breslin. Subs: Seán Óg Leggett, Joseph Mullen, Daithí Byrne. Mentors: Niall Loughman, Anita McCahey, Drew McCabe, Barry Kiernan.
St Michael’s NS Kill: Bill O’Halloran; Bramble Sheridan, Ellen Doherty; Kaydan Doherty, Ryan Maher (1-0); Sam Hayes (0-1), Finn Mulcahy; Eve Doyle, Teddy Kinsella Phillips (0-2 frees); Cora Cosgrave, Tadhg Cosgrave (1-0). Subs: Conor Finnegan, Esmée Dempsey, Josh Farrell, Donnacha Forde, James Regan, John Forde, Kyron Skerry, Regan Doherty. Mentor: Paul Noonan.
Referee: Eoin Joyce (Scoil Naomh Padraig, Trim).