Dynamic display as Longford school Cnoc Mhuire Granard cruise into the All-Ireland senior ‘B’ final

Cnoc Mhuire Granard are through to the All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior ‘B’ Football Championship Final after producing a dynamic display to dismantle Aquinas Grammar School Belfast at the excellent St Patrick’s GAA grounds in Donagh, Co Fermanagh on Saturday. 

Cnoc Mhuire Granard . . . 1-21 Aquinas Grammar School Belfast . . . 0-7 

Powered by outstanding midfielder Odhran Madden and the razor sharp full-forward-line of Brendan Martin Burns, Cian O’Donnell and Ben Blessington, the majestic quartet clocked up 16 points between which included a total of five cracking two-pointers (1 free).

Martin Burns and Blessington were also involved in the slick move that was started and finished by Sean Fagan who blasted the ball to the back of the Belfast net midway through the first half and it was virtually all over as a contest with Cnoc Mhuire in a commanding 1-12 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Whatever hopes the outclassed Ulster champions had of staging a dramatic comeback in the second half were dashed when the Leinster champions made a strong start with three points in quick succession from Cian O’Donnell, Odhran Madden (free) and Dylan Ledwith.

The last of the Cnoc Mhuire two-pointers materialised when Ben Blessington landed a terrific strike against the wind and the opponents in the All-Ireland title decider (apparently on Saturday week) will be St Nathy's of Ballaghaderreen (Mayo) who hammered Mount Saint Michael, Rosscarbery (Cork) by 3-18 to 0-11 in the other semi-final. 

CNOC MHUIRE GRANARD: Eoin O’Hara (Granard); Caolain Madden (Gowna), Mel Mulligan (Abbeylara), Jacob Gaynor Brady (Granard); Karl O’Hara (Abbeylara, 0-2), Aaron Plunkett (Mullahoran), Niall O’Donnell (Granard); Dylan Ledwith (Abbeylara, 0-1), Odhran Madden (Gowna, 0-5, a brace of two-pointers free and play, 1 free); Sean Fagan (Abbeylara, 1-0), Liam Greene (Mostrim, captain, 0-1), Daniel Corr (Granard); Ben Blessington (Granard, 0-3, 1 two-pointer play), Cian O’Donnell (Granard, 0-4, 1 two-pointer play), Brendan Martin Burns (Granard, 0-4, 1 two-pointer play).

Subs:- Jake Brady (Gowna) for J Gaynor Brady (41 mins); Padraig Cahill (Mostrim) for C Madden (46 mins); Kian Lynch (Mullahoran, 0-1) for D Corr (48 mins); Dylan Corr (Gowna) for N O’Donnell (51 mins); Shane O’Hara (Granard) for K O’Hara (53 mins). 

AQUINAS GRAMMAR SCHOOL BELFAST: Cormac McGarry; Oliver Quinn, Frank Heaney, Oscar O’Connor; Conall Vaugh, Conor Frazer, Darragh McQuaid; Jacko Watson (0-1), James McEvoy; Valo Martilla, JJ Higgins (0-2, frees), Rhys Bray (0-1); Fintan McArdle (0-1), Conn Huston,  Padraig O’Hara (0-2, two-pointer). 

Subs:- Johnny Higgins for R Bray (26 mins); Jude Dixon for D McQuaid (41 mins); Shane Bell for V Martilla (41 mins); Rory McConnell for O Quinn (53 mins); Eoin Lovell for Oscar O’Connell (53 mins). 

Referee: James Lewis (Fermanagh).