FR. FINNEGAN CUP WINNERS!

Today the boys and girls of St. Mary's contested their 4^th final of this school year today in the Fr. Finnegan cup hosted by Blessed Patrick O'Loughran PS. The tournament was a huge success, mainly down to the excellent staff at Blessed Patrick, who ran the tournament superbly, as they do every year.

Having been beaten in the Academy cup semi-final and all 3 previous finals, St. Mary’s were trying to break the curse that has haunted them in all previous competitions, and they did so in style!

A repeat of last week’s Cumann na mBunscol final pitted hosts Blessed Patrick against St. Mary’s in a tightly fought contest.

St.Mary’s started the brighter of the two sides and after just 30 seconds James Mulgrew raced through to put St.Mary’s a point to the good.

Another Mulgrew point followed before the same man raced through, as he had done in the first 30 seconds, only this time he drew the defender to him, popped the ball off to Henry McQuaid who slotted the ball smartly past the Goalkeeper, who produced some top drawer saves, not only in this tournament,  but was pivotal in their win over St. Mary's last week.

Blessed Patrick needed to get a score and quick, which they did through their midfielder who produced a magnificent piece of skill down the side-line to cut in and kick a long range score over to settle his team-mates down.

St. Mary’s then responded immediately as James Mulgrew caught the kick out and drew the foul, which he slotted over to restore the lead back to 5 points.

St. Mary’s looked like a team possessed, which started from the back with Niamh McCormick and Darragh O’Callaghan excellent and not giving their players an inch. Just before the half Darragh O’Callaghan played a fantastic long range pass from the side-line into Henry McQuaid who showed great vision to pass to Conall Heron, who was fouled inside the 13 yard line which allowed James Mulgrew to kick his 4^th point of the final and give St. Mary’s a 6 point lead going into the break.

Blessed Patrick needed a score and within thirty seconds of the restart, they went on a dangerous attack, which looked destined for a goal, only for some textbook tackling from Darragh O’Callaghan, who dispossessed the attacker as he went through on goal.

St.Mary’s nearly turned the lead into 9 points only for some fantastic goalkeeping again, as Henry McQuaid took another brilliant catch, he linked with his partner in crime Conall Heron who shot low with his left foot, only to have it saved by the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper.

Within Seconds, Carland were nearly left to rue their missed chances as a rare mix up in defence allowed Blessed Patrick’s forward to break through on goal, only for Callan Dearn to produce a top class save of his own with his feet, Dearn could not do anything about the rebound which Magee lifted and tapped over to reduce the gap to 5 points.

St. Mary’s went straight on the attack again from the kick out and as Darragh O’Callaghan collected the kick out, he turned and played another inch perfect pass to James Mulgrew, who cut inside John McKenna and fired over to extend St. Mary’s lead back to 6.

Blessed Patrick needed scores going into the last few minutes and they looked to get them through their inspirational midfielder, Luckily for Carland, Michael O’Neill was marshalling the midfielder expertly, which lead to scores becoming increasingly more difficult for Blessed Patrick to get. Michael, who currently does not play for any club, put on a performance which any top county man marker would have been proud of.

Carland stretched their lead further through 2 more James Mulgrew frees, which left Bless Patrick needing 3 goals to win the game. Into the final minute, Blessed Patrick Knocked on the door a few times, when their midfielder broke free of Michael O’Neill’s shackles and fired low, only to go agonisingly wide. They did however; get what turned out to be a consolation goal in the final seconds, as their number 8 fired a close range free to the net.

St.Mary’s held on for a 5 point win which saw them raise the Fr. Finnegan Cup for the first time in the school’s history.

Congratulations to all children involved in the tournament on the day, you have all done your school proud.