The MUSA Arena in Cookstown was buzzing with excitement today as the nine schools who qualified from their various heats all over Tyrone came together for the Allianz Cumann na mBunscoil Boys Indoor Finals. The nine group winners were:
- St John's PS Moy
- St Teresa's PS Loughmacrory
- St Patrick's PS Donaghmore
- St Mary's PS Ballygawley
- Kingsisland PS
- St Oliver Plunkett PS Beragh
- St Ronan's PS Recarson
- Gaelscoil Eoghain
- St Dympna's PS Dromore
When the teams arrived the draw was made by Mr Pat McGivern and the schools were divided into two Groups.
Group A was made up from: St Patrick's Donaghmore, St Mary's Ballygawley, Kingsisland PS and St John's Moy.
Group B had: Gaelscoil Eoghain, St Oliver Plunkett Beragh, St Teresa's Loughmacrory, St Ronan's Recarson and St Dympna's Dromore.
Group Stages
Our first group stage game was Donaghmore v Ballygawley. This was a great game to start the day and set the tone for the fast open and exciting football that followed. The Donaghmore men played some excellent football from the beginning but found Darragh McAnenly in goals in inspired form, making a string of saves. Connor McGirr also caught the eye for St Mary's but the St Patrick's boys were just too strong. For Donaghmore Tommy Haughey and Lorcan Barr continued to show the form they displayed when they won their indoor heat.
Up next was Gaelscoil Eoghain and Beragh. The St Oliver Plunket's boys got off to a flying start with an early goal and despite the best efforts of Eon Ryan and Tom Coyle they couldn't close the gap. Donnacha Harley hit a few impressive scores to ensure the Beragh boys got off to a winning start.
Kingsisland played the Moy in our next game which looked like it might end in a draw. They both led the games at stages before Kingsisland got the all important winning goal which earned them all 3 points. James McCann had a great game for Kingsisland and put in a great tackle to set up the final goal chance. For the Moy Donal Devlin caught the eye with a brilliant display of skill and pace. He continued this form for every game and was just a joy to watch in every game.
Loughmacrory v Recarson gave us our first draw of the day with the two teams finishing level on a score line of 2-1 to 1-4. Conor Meenagh was a real handful for Recarson and he almost earned all three points for St Teresa's boys but some great work by Frank McFadden and Ronan Torney did enough to keep the game level. The Recarson boys also had to thank their keeper Alfie Irvine for a few brilliant saves in the dying moments.
Donaghmore were improving in every game and even though Kingsisland got off to a fast start with Jonathan Blair and James McCann continuing to show well. However the St Patrick's boys soon pulled them back and took a lead they wouldn't loose. Tiernan Winters was excellent in defence for Donaghmore and Danny McKillion in goals frustrated the Kingsisland boys with a number of very good saves.
Gaelscoil Eoghain came up against a determined Dromore team in their first game of the day. The Dromore boys were ruthless in front of goals and converted almost every half chance they made. Donnagh McCullagh and Darragh McKenna impressed for the St Dympna's boys. For Kingsisland Jonathan Blair had a good game with Henry Taggart also battling well.
St John's Moy boys met the impressive Donaghmore team next in one of the most exciting games of the day. Conal Bonner and Kevin Barry Kelly had great games as they caused Donaghmore real problems. Danny McKillion had a good game in goals for Donaghmore and with Tiernan Winters in front of him growing in confidence they forced the Moy boys into taking their points as they couldn't get through on goal. Unfortunately for the Moy boys their 2-4, which would have won most games fell short of Donaghmore's 4-0.
In another very tight game Beragh came up against a very hungry Loughmacrory team who wanted to make sure they got all 3 points. Finn Donnelly had another very good game in midfield for Beragh and Harry Og McNamee was a rock in defence, but unfortunately for them Shan McDonald had his best game of the day and gave Loughmacrory the possession they needed from midfield to make sure Eoin Kelly upfront had enough ball to show us how good a left foot he has.
The Moy boys, hurting from their defeat to Donaghmore, took their frustration out on St Mary's Ballygawley. They played their best football of the day moving the ball quickly and blitzing the Ballygawley goal. Kevin Barry Kelly caught the eye for the Moy and Donal Devlin was ruthless in front of goal. Darragh O'Donnell and Ronal Lyons battled bravely for the Ballygawley boys but the Moy boys were just too sharp on the day to be beaten
Recarson were in great form against Gaelscoil Eoghain and showed how good a team they were. Cathal Devlin Ronan Torney and Frank McFadden were super once again. For Gaelscoil Eoghan Senan McAshea and Eoin Ryan were doing all they could to get the win they wanted, despite their best efforts Recarson got the goals they needed to take all 3 points.
Ballygawley had their best game of the day against Kings in their last group game. Conla Quinn and Sean Loughran played like tigers in the defence and gave their team the platform they needed to secure a very impressive win. Jonathan Blair and Henry Taggart tried everything they could to close the gap for Kingsisland but they just fell short in the end.
This was the last game in Group A and after adding up the points unbeaten Donaghmore came out top of the group with the Moy finishing as runners up. All eyes turned to Group B and the last few group games which saw Loughmacrory finishing up as group winners and Dromore runners up.
Semi Final 1
Donaghmore v Dromore
Dromore got off to a great start in this game and hit the first score a great point straight from the throw in. The Donaghmore men however responded immediately with a super goal straight from the kick out. Michael Darragh O'Brien and Donnagh McCullagh battled bravely for every ball and put serious pressure on the Donaghmore boys but they were not going to be beaten. They were very calm in possession and moved the ball so quickly to each other showing great vision and unselfishness. Lorcan Barr was in the thick of the action with Tiernan Winters acting as a one man wall at the back. Dromore were disappointed not to reach the final but they should be very happy with the quality of performance their boys put up on the day.
Semi Final 2
Loughmacrory v The Moy
In our second semi final two of the teams who impressed all day met for the first time. Loughmacrory were well led by Shan McDonald who run himself into the ground in every game showing a great attitude and hunger. The Moy boys continued the form they showed against Ballygawley in the group stages and produced some fantastic football. They were excellent at moving the ball quickly into good scoring positions and took every half chance they made. Loughmacrory a team that are no strangers to reaching and winning the Cumann nm mBunscoil indoor boys county finals just fell short this year.
Final
Donaghmore v Moy
The two top scoring teams in the group stages met for a second time in the final. It was a game that promised so much and thankfully it didn't disappoint. Both teams deserve great credit for the quality of football they produced on the day not just in the final but in every game prior to it. Both teams were inspired by two of their smaller players, Donal Devlin and Daniel O'Neill. What they lacked in size they made up for in skill technique and bravery. It was a great battle to watch. In truth it was very difficult to pick out one player as both teams had numerous boys who caught the eye over the course of the day. Donaghmore once again proved to be too difficult to break down despite the Moy boys doing everything they could to get the win. Donaghmore's overall quality, their teamwork and understanding of one another was very impressive. The Moy boys, can be very proud of finishing in the top 2 out of 72 primary schools in Tyrone this year. With what we saw from them today they will certainly be a threat in our out door competitions this year.
As for the victorious team their teacher Mr Peter Harte, can be very proud of a very impressive performance. The title of Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Boys’ Indoor Football Champions 2024 is well deserved to a great group of boys who in their behaviour and respectful attitude represent their school, club and families so well.
Many thanks go to our referee on the day Mark Loughran, who also praised all the schools present for the sporting conduct of the boys involved. We would also like to thank Mr Pat McGivern from Tyrone and Ulster Cumann na mBunscoil for organising and running all the games so smoothly.
Next up for Donaghmore is a tilt at an Ulster Championship on Wednesday 20th of March in the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt. Everyone associated with Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thír Eoghain certainly wish them well.
Ádh mór oraibh!
