Stunning second half performance seals Leinster glory for brilliant Cnoc Mhuire Granard

An awesome second half performance ensured that Cnoc Mhuire Granard captured Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Football ‘B’ Championship Final glory at the expense of Gorey Community School on Wednesday afternoon at Abbotstown. 

Cnoc Mhuire, under the guidance of John Coyle, Morgan and Vincent Nally, looked to be in a little bit of bother when they fell 1-1 to 2-4 in arrears after 13 minutes but any of their fans of a nervous disposition had no need to worry as over the next three quarters of an hour their team delivered a polished and power packed display.

From the 17th minute until the shrill of the final whistle, Cnoc Mhuire outscored their beleaguered opponents by 3-15 to 0-6 as they produced slick and devastating attacking football coupled with disciplined, defiant and brave defending. 

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Liam Greene played a captain’s part from right half back, while Mel Mulligan and Aaron Plunkett in the heart of the Cnoc Mhuire rearguard were resolute throughout. Indeed, with Cnoc Mhuire six points to the good, 3-9 to 2-6, Plunkett sustained a heavy knock when he threw himself in front of a Jamie Hughes strike to prevent a Gorey goal in the 46th minute. It was that type of tenacity and determination that made Cnoc Mhuire extremely difficult to break down.

Dylan Ledwith and Odhran Madden (scorer of five second half points) were dominant at mid-field and in the inside forward line, the Granard St Mary’s club mates of Brendan Martin Burns, Cian O’Donnell and Ben Blessington were simply on fire and this trio contributed 4-8 between them, 3-8 from play, as they subjected the Gorey defenders to a torrid time. The work rate and link up play of Sean Fagan and Daniel Corr was also exceptional. 

With a sprinkling of Longford players that won Leinster Minor medals in 2024 and the Heaney Cup All-Ireland Tier 3 competition in 2025, along with the Granard contingent who savoured U21 ‘B’ county success with their club in 2025, and not to mention the Cavan representatives from Gowna, Mullahoran and Ballymachugh, this is a very formidable Cnoc Mhuire outfit and when in full flow they are a joy to watch. They enjoyed a 3-16 to 1-19 win over St Joseph’s SS, Drogheda in the recent North Leinster Final and they will go into the All-Ireland series brimming with confidence. 

Directly from the throw-in Cnoc Mhuire demonstrated their intent as Daniel Corr powered through for a point. And their dream start gathered further momentum in the 3rd minute as Brendan Martin Burns clinically dispatched a penalty after team captain Liam Greene had been hauled down by Gorey’s Niall Kavanagh following one of his marauding forays forward.

Gorey, who defeated Cnoc Mhuire in the 2022 Leinster ‘B’ semi-final, rallied resiliently and during a purple patch between the 6th and 13th minutes they registered 2-4 without response. 

Alex Devereux slotted home a penalty after referee Paul Fahey judged that he had been tugged back off-the-ball by Cnoc Mhuire defender Jacob Gaynor Brady. Odhran Morris (free and a fine two pointer from play) was on target for the Wexford school before Joseph O’Flaherty slipped in along the wing and drilled a low left-footed strike to the twine. A 13th minute point from midfielder Alex Carton made it 2-4 to 1-1 and Gorey’s supporters were delirious.

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Cnoc Mhuire refused to panic and they admirably steadied the ship with Greene, Aaron Plunkett and the twin pillars of Dylan Ledwith and Odhran Madden providing leadership around the central diamond. Cian O’Donnell, Liam Greene, Ben Blessington and Brendan Martin Burns kicked points in quick succession and in the 25th minute Burns regained the lead for Cnoc Mhuire, 2-5 to 2-4, after he fisted in a goal following incisive build up play by Karl O’Hara and Madden. 

Gorey levelled proceedings in the 29th minute thanks to Carton. However, it was Cnoc Mhuire who finished the half in the ascendancy, as Cian O’Donnell was fastest to react and he fired in a goal after Daniel Corr’s initial shot had rebounded off the crossbar. Half-time: Cnoc Mhuire 3-5 Gorey CS 2-5.

On the restart the teams exchanged points, with Ben Blessington (Cnoc Mhuire) and Dylan Bealin (Gorey), son of former Dublin player Paul Bealin, on target. The Cnoc Mhuire rearguard was disciplined and resolute as they soaked up everything that was thrown at them and they gradually set about reflecting this superiority on the scoreboard. 

Between the 38th and 50th minute the Longford school reeled off seven unanswered points as they surged 3-13 to 2-6 in front. Odhran Madden confidently converted two 2-point frees, while Cian O’Donnell (2) and Blessington also found the range as they tormented the Gorey defence. 

Darragh Forde, nephew of Wexford All Star winner Matty Forde, fisted a 51st minute Gorey point but it proved brief respite as Cnoc Mhuire upped the intensity once again. The skilful Blessington curled over his fourth point after being set-up by the industrious Sean Fagan and in the 55th minute, the rampant Brendan Martin Burns profited from a clever Corr pass to complete his hat-trick of goals with aplomb. Cnoc Mhuire were now ahead by double scores 4-14 to 2-7 and their drive for glory wasn’t going to be halted. 

As matters petered out, Gorey landed three points through O’Flaherty, Carton and Devereux (free). And fittingly, deep in added time, with their supporters already edging eagerly towards the sideline for the post-match celebrations, points from Odhran Madden and sub Kian Lynch wrapped up a sensational and thoroughly deserved, 4-16 to 2-10, victory for Cnoc Mhuire. 

Scorers

Cnoc Mhuire Granard: Brendan Martin Burns 3-1 (1-0 penalty), Cian O’Donnell 1-3, Odhran Madden 0-5 (two 2-pointer frees), Ben Blessington 0-4, Daniel Corr 0-1, Liam Greene 0-1, Kian Lynch 0-1 

Gorey CS: Alex Devereux 1-1 (1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Joseph O’Flaherty 1-1, Odhran Morris 0-3 (0-1 free & 2-pointer), Alex Carton 0-3, Dylan Bealin 0-1, Darragh Forde 0-1

CNOC MHUIRE GRANARD: Eoin O’Hara (Granard); Caolain Madden (Gowna), Mel Mulligan (Abbeylara), Jacob Gaynor Brady (Granard); Liam Greene (Mostrim, capt), Aaron Plunkett (Mullahoran), Niall O’Donnell (Granard); Dylan Ledwith (Abbeylara), Odhran Madden (Gowna); Sean Fagan (Abbeylara), Karl O’Hara (Abbeylara), Daniel Corr (Granard); Ben Blessington (Granard), Cian O’Donnell (Granard), Brendan Martin Burns (Granard).

Subs: Padraig Cahill (Mostrim), Kian Lynch (Mullahoran), Dylan Corr (Gowna), Jake Brady (Gowna), Ciaran McEvoy (Sean Connolly’s), David Simpson (Gowna), Arthur Lopes (Ballymore), James Dalton (Mullinalaghta), Shane O’Hara (Granard), Liam O’Hara (Granard), Tommy Coyle (Ballymachugh), Daniels Mikelson (Abbeylara), Charlie Sheridan (Lacken), Conor Smith (Mullahoran), Cillian Leonard (Mullinalaghta), Noa Salopek (Granard), Patrick O’Reilly (Mullahoran), Raymond Madden (Gowna), Mark Shields (Gowna), Tomas Scanlon (Abbeylara), Odhran O’Reilly (Mullahoran), Cillian Fagan (Mullinalaghta), Jake Sheridan (Ballymachugh), Killian O’Reilly (Mullahoran.

GOREY COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Adam Furlong; Cathal Fitzpatrick, Liam Henry, Rory Cooper; Dylan Bealin, Eoin Hughes, Niall Kavanagh; Conor Fanning, Alex Carton; Jamie Hughes (capt), Odhran Morris, Joseph O’Flaherty; Alex Devereux, Darragh Forde, Eoin Kinsella.

REFEREE: Paul Fahey, Dublin

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