PRIMARY SCHOOLS FINALS: Revenge for Rathbeggan as Dias Cooper shows the way
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Rathbeggan NS’s Antonio Dias Cooper launches an attack during the Div 3 Hurling final against Ballivor NS at Trim on Friday. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
Rathbeggan NS captains Antonio Dias Cooper and Zach Saimeh receive the Div 3 Hurling Cup from Gerry Conroy. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 5
Ballivor NS Ódhran Cunningham receives the Spirit of the Final award from Meath Chronicle’s Jimmy Geoghegan. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 5
The Rathbeggan NS players (from left) were: back - Kheelan Kelly-Moody, Cathal Hogan, TJ Heavin, Tim Ryan, Jack Burke, Zach Saimeh, Theo Dosunmu, Jamie Kelly, Antonio Dias Cooper, Johnny Neary, Tucker Freyne, Sam Reilly; front - Jamie Herlihy, Martin Oyekunle, Liam Ryan, James Corrigan, Joe Ledwith, Callum Molloy, Alex Hayden, Dylan Clarke, Freddie Ledwith, Daniel Casey. Photo: Declan Lynch. David MullenImage 5 of 5
The Ballivor NS players (from left) were back - Jack Ryan, Kaiden Boyne, Dillon Tilvikas Rooney, Ódhran Cunningham, Dylan Swaine Ayres, Kayla Lynam, Reuben Loran, Darren Darby, Órlaith Berigan, Eirinn Berigan; front - Michael Colgan, Liam Rankin, Kian Glennon, Ollie Ray Clarke, Grace Ryan, Ella Rose Fagan, Caley Kiernan, Rua Keoghan. Photo: Declan Lynch. David MullenRathbeggan NS1-8
BallivorNS 2-2
There was never much between the teams in this Div 3 Hurling final at Trim on Friday. This was a contest that ebbed and flowed throughout with Rathbeggan NS just about doing enough to get over the line and claim the trophy.
A big reason why they did just that was the performance of midfielder Antonio Dias Cooper. Time and again he powered forward and either found the net or slotted between the posts clocking up 1-7 over the course of the game. His goal was scored early in the contest when he unleashed a shot from distance. It looked like the sliotar was going to go over bar. Then it suddenly dipped and ended up in the net.
There wasn’t much that passed Dylan Swaine Ayres in the Ballivor goals. He made a string of fine saves but he could do little about Dias Cooper’s goal that helped Rathbeggan go in at the break with a 1-2 to 1-0 advantage. In the second-half Dais Cooper continued to add to his account including a magnificent point from a free taken well inside his own half.
Ballivor’s first-half goal came from their marquee midfielder, Odhran Cunningham – and he added another one in the second-half after a scorching solo run. He too got most of his team’s scores with colleague Darren Darby landing two points from play.
Rathbeggan had big performances all over the pitch with their goalkeeper Jack Burke – like his Ballivor counterpart – also called on to make smart saves including one memorable one from Dias Cooper.
TJ Heavin also came on to land a point for the Rathbeggan side who lost to Ballivor in the group stages. This time they made no mistake.
Rathbeggan NS – Jack Burke; Joe Ledwith, Tucker Freyne; Sam Reilly, Theo Dosunmu, Zach Saimeh; Tim Ryan, Antonio Dias Cooper (1-7 one free, one '45'); Johnny Neary, Jamie Kelly, Alex Hayden; Callum Molloy, Dylan Clarke. Subs – Daniel Casey, Liam Ryan, Freddie Ledwith, Cathal Hogan, Jamie Herlihy, TJ Heavin (0-1), James Corrigan, Martin Oyekunle, Kheelan Kelly-Moody. Mentors – R Geddes, R Small, L Curran.
Ballivor – Dylan Swaine Ayres; Jack Ryan, Kayla Lynam; Orlaith Berigan, Dillon Tilvikas Rooney, Reuben Loran; Michale Colgan, Odhran Cunningham (2-0); Kian Glennon, Darren Darby (0-2), Ollie Ray Clarke; Eirinn Berigan, Kaiden Boyne. Subs – Rua Keoghan, Liam Rankin, Caley Kiernan, Ella Rose Fagan. Mentors – L Doherty, A Doherty, R McCormack.
Referee – JJ Brennan (Dunboyne SPS).