O’Leary doubles up in Griffeen glory
THERE was double delight for Griffeen Valley Educate Together and St Clare’s PS, Harold’s Cross in the latest edition of the Cumann na mBunscol, Áth Cliath Primary Schools finals at Croke Park.
With a total of 15 games taking place over the course of the day, it proved to be a hectic schedule of hurling and camogie action in GAA HQ.
Thanks to the impressive scoring exploits of Seán Langton and Seán Carolan, Griffeen recorded a 3-9 to 1-3 triumph at the expense of neighbours Divine Mercy SNS, Balgaddy in the Corn Oideachas decider.
Though this was regarded as a boys competition, four of the Lucan school’s rising camogie stars – Megan O’Leary, Anya Dunne, Milly Hughes and Orla Donnelly – did feature in their squad for this much-deserved success.
Incredibly, the quartet were immediately pressed back into the fray for a Corn Fintan Walsh showdown against St Columba’s NS, Glasnevin (alma mater of GAA president John Horan). Despite initially encountering a stubborn resistance from the northside school, O’Leary’s magnificent haul of 4-4 helped Griffeen to finish with 13 points to spare – 5-4 to 1-3.
Hot on the heels of an emphatic 7-6 to 1-0 win over Holy Rosary, Ballycragh in the Sciath Olly Quinlan showdown, St Clare’s also secured silverware in the Sciath Pádraig Mac Giolla Bhearraigh final against Griffith Barracks MDS. However, it turned out to be a mixed day for Dublin 7 Educate Together.
They followed up a comprehensive reversal to Our Lady of the Wayside NS, Kiltiernan in a Sciath Nuri showpiece with a hard-earned 7-8 to 5-4 victory over Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabrach in their Corn Uí Neill meeting.
Elsewhere, a final-minute point by midfielder Rian Mac Roibeard provided Scoil Bhríde, Raghnallach with a decisive edge over local rivals Gaelscoil Lios na nóg in the Corn Pádraig Mac Giolla Bhearraigh (3-11 to 5-4).
There was also Cup successes for Sacred Heart BNS, Ballygall, Belgrove Senior GNS, Clontarf and Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, while St Brigid’s, Foxrock, St Killian’s, Kingswood and Holy Spirit, Ballymun also came out on top in their shield competitions.