PICTURES | Louth schools compete in Cumann na mBunscol competition

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The week leading up to the first school mid-term break saw the culmination of eight Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Lú football competitions as boys and girls from the four corners of Louth descended upon the Darver all-weather pitch in a bid to etch their schools’ names in Cumann na mBunscol history.

Monday saw the finals of four urban competitions played out. Concurrently, St Mary’s PPS and Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire played out the final of the main girls’ competition while St Paul’s SNS faced Scoil Mhuire nan Gael in the secondary competition final.

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After a period of dominance over the years by St Mary’s PPS in Corn Oriel, the girls from Ardee had found success recently and were going for their third title in a row.

While the Drogheda side worked hard and managed to put some fine points on the scoreboard, Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire’s lively forward line punished their rivals at every opportunity – scoring four goals in the first half.

The second half saw the Ardee side round off a fine footballing display to take home the crown. On the other side of the all-weather pitch, the girls of St Paul’s SNS reclaimed Sciath Uí Mhearúin despite a spirited Scoil Mhuire na nGael performance.

The showpieces of the Urban boys’ competitions followed with a maiden win for the boys from St Oliver’s NS.

Plenty of diligent work has been done in the Ballymackenny school since its inception, and on Monday, they reaped the rewards with a fine Corn Sheamús Ó Maoltuille win over Scoil Mhuire nan Gael.

In the main boys’ competition, St Oliver Plunkett NS, Blackrock, made it two in a row as they put in a near-flawless performance to see off St Mary’s PPS.

And while the Drogheda outfit worked extremely hard and showed great promise at the start of the second half, the Blackrock side had too much in terms of attacking play.

On Tuesday, four rural finals were played out. First up, the girls from Rampark NS were in the final of Corn Sheán Mac Cába after claiming the girls' summer Rural Shield earlier this year.

They faced a Knockbridge NS side who were back in this competition’s decider after a year’s absence. A blistering start from the Mid-Louth outfit saw them race into a 1-3 to no score lead – a lead they would never surrender.

A goal before half-time from the Lordship school gave hope, and in the second half, they came out battling, but the Knockbridge team soaked up the pressure superbly and managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over when they ventured forward.

The boys of Knockbridge had a lot to live up to as they stepped onto the field next to face a very strong and fancied Tallanstown team in the final of Sciath Mhic Raoise – a team who had beaten them twice already this year.

The efforts of the girls beforehand clearly gave the boys heart as they worked tirelessly to negate their opponents and break free to score when they forayed into the Tallanstown half.

A four-point lead was clawed back by the Tallanstown side, and when Gareth Crawley blew the full-time whistle, the scores were tied. A cagey extra time was won in dramatic fashion – by the only score of the period.

A sideline free with the outside of the Knockbridge captain’s boot was a score worthy of winning any game – juvenile or senior.

Attempting to emulate the double that preceded them, the girls and boys of St Kevin’s NS, Philipstown, contested the next two finals.

In the final of Corn Setanta, the girls were hoping to retain the title they’d claimed last year, but their opponents in that final, Muchgrange NS, had a score to settle.

The game ebbed and flowed, and a final 1-1 from the Cooley side in the last few minutes saw them run out four-point winners.

There was cause for celebration for the Philipstown school, however, as their boys won out the final of Sciath Uí Dhuinneachdha by a single goal following a tense affair with Mullaghbouy NS, who had achieved so much success in the Summer Finals this year.

While Cumann na mBunscol football competitions take a break until the new year, the second half of term one will see the annual Allianz Cumann na mBunscol all-county quiz, our skills competition and the Louth-Meath girls’ representative blitz.