Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Louth Summer Football Finals

On Saturday last, primary school footballers from around the county descended upon a rain-soaked Stabannon Parnells ground for the highlight of Cumann na mBunscol Louth calendar.

Ten finals were played in a hectic morning but the conditions did not dampen the spirits of everyone in attendance.

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The action kicked off at 9:30am with St Mary’s PPS facing St Oliver’s NS in the final of Sciath PJ Mac Oireachtaigh while Monastery NS, Ardee played Scoil Mhuire na nGael in order to determine the destination of Corn Briain Mac Craith.

In the girl's final, St Mary’s PPS - perennial Sciath Mhic Chionnaith finalists – claimed the trophy that bears their former teacher’s name despite the best efforts of their town rivals.

On pitch two, the boys from Bay Estate, who have been so close over the past few years to claiming CnmB honours put all those heartaches behind them as they took home the first piece of footballing silverware in over a decade.

St Kevin’s NS and Mullaghbuoy NS played out an enthralling final with the lead changing hands multiple times over the course of a game that ebbed and flowed.

It was the team from the peninsula that took home the premier small rural schools girls trophy as Mullaghbuoy started off what would turn out to be a truly memorable day by hoisting Sciath Uí Choindealbhán.

After winning Corn Mhic Ardail in the Autumn, St Oliver Plunkett NS added Corn Bhliain Mhuire to their trophy cabinet with a tight win over a steely St Mary’s PPS boys team.

The tightest game of the day took place between the Omeath schools’ team and Tenure NS in the final of Corn Phádraig Ó hUalacháin.

It took a last-minute goal to seal the tie for the boys from Monasterboice. On the other pitch, Mullaghbuoy NS capped off a day that will live long in their school’s history as the boys convincingly took home Corn Mhic an Ghirr despite a strong second-half showing from Dillonstown NS.

One of the most skilful teams in recent CnmB Lú history capped off a wonderful year with their fourth trophy as Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire claimed Scitah Mhic Chionnaith.

St Paul’s SNS were their opponents, and the girls from the Drogheda school will have plenty to be proud of after winning the secondary competition in Autumn and stepping up to face the stronger teams this term.

It’s clear that plenty of good work is being done in the school and in the local clubs on the Rathmullen Road.

Another chapter was written in the longstanding rivalry between Tallanstown NS and Tullyallen NS as the schools faced each other in the Corn Pheadar Ó Cearnaigh final for the third time in the last four years.

The scores were tied, but Tallanstown edged ahead with the victory this year in a pulsating tie. The last finals of the day saw the finals of the large rural girls’ competitions.

Rampark NS were too strong for their Ballapousta counterparts as they claimed the Girls Rural Shield, while Tenure were the second “double winners” of the day as they marginally edged out Tullyallen NS in the final of Sciath Mhic Ghiolla Eáin, making it a joyous day for the Monasterboice school.

As ever, the day ran off smoothly. Cumann na mBunscol Lú would like to thank all at Stabannon Parnells GFC for the use of their wonderful facilities, all of the teachers on the committee who helped out on the day and over the year, and all of the teachers and pupils who made finals day so special.