Super Cnoc Mhuire Granard crowned All-Ireland champions

For the second time in their proud history, Cnoc Mhuire Granard are celebrating All-Ireland senior football glory and there was a lot to admire about their latest success as the north Longford secondary school withstood a determined comeback from St Nathy’s Ballaghaderreen in the ‘B’ championship final.

Cnoc Mhuire Granard . . . 3-11  St Nathy’s College Ballaghaderreen . . . 1-9

Played at Sean O’Heslins GAA grounds in Ballinamore on Saturday, a cracking goal from outstanding centre-half-back Aaron Plunkett in the closing stages of the first half left Cnoc Mhuire leading by 1-8 to 1-4 at the break.

Flying wing forward Sean Fagan also made a major impact for the Paddy Drummond Cup winners  who recovered from the early St Nathy’s goal which was finished to the net by Conor Moriarty with four minutes gone on the clock at the excellent Leitrim venue.

The Connacht champions were now 1-2 to 0-1 in front with their keeper Patrick Gaynor converting a two-pointer free in the opening minute of the exciting match while Cian O’Donnell (free) was on target for Cnoc Mhuire who gradually got going with Odhran Madden and Dylan Ledwith giving their team a decisive edge at midfield.

A dominant spell which yielded 1-4 in succession between the 22nd and 26th minutes changed the course of the game and after Aaron Plunkett went so close to scoring a second goal in the early stages of the second half, revitalised St Nathy’s gradually awoke from their slumber to close the gap to just a couple of points, 1-10 to 1-8.

But Cnoc Mhuire refused to panic and struck a major blow in the 52nd minute with a goal from Karl O’Hara who pounced to hit the target after a high ball in from Niall O’Donnell broke kindly for the alert Abbleylara player. 

St Nathy’s were in a rattled state of mind and their slim hopes of salvaging the situation were completely dashed when they conceded a third goal a couple of minutes later. 

A well-worked move ended up with Ben Blessington hitting the crossbar but the unmarked wing back Niall O’Donnell was in the right place to flick the ball to the net. 

Just for good measure Niall’s brother Cian fired over his third point and super Cnoc Mhuire are worthy All-Ireland champions in a terrific triumph that was led throughout this wonderful campaign by their inspirational captain Liam Greene.   

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

Subs:- Jake Brady (Gowna) for M Mulligan (half-time); Kian Lynch (Mullahoran) for D Corr (47 mins); Padraig Cahill (Mostrim) for J Gaynor Brady (56 mins); Liam O’Hara (St Mary’s Granard) for K O’Hara (57 mins); James Dalton (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s) for B Martin Burns (stoppage time).  

ST NATHY’S COLLEGE BALLAGHADERREEN: Patrick Gaynor (0-2, two-pointer free), Harry Dooney, Liam Boyle, James Kilroy; James Cassidy, Declan Duffy (0-1), Patrick O’Dowd; Oran Frain, Sean Buckley; James Puncheon (0-1), Dean Casey (0-3, all frees), Aaron Duffy; Ryan O’Sullivan (0-1), Michael McTeigue, Conor Moriarty (1-1).

Subs:- Cian Gallagher for P O’Dowd (half-time); Noah Gill for A Duffy (half-time); Ryan McGarry for J Puncheon (56 mins). 

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).