BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
With Primary Schools finishing up for the summer next week, the Primary Schools Camogie and Hurling competitions have been winding down over the past few weeks with finals played at a variety of venues.
The competitions began in March with a whole host of games played throughout the group stages before reaching the knockout stages, and playing a Primary Schools Final is a very special day in the life of a young child as more than likely it’s the first major final that they will play in.
The Roinn A Camogie Final played in Conahy was a superb contest as St. Canices won by a point against Coon Muckalee 4-2 to 3-4.
Coon Muckalee had scored 6 goals in their Semi-Final win against Clara as they won 6-5 to 5-1, while St. Canices overcame Bunscoil MaCauley Ris 1-6 to 0-5 in the other Semi-Final.
Their was consolation for Bunscoil MaCauley Ris in the Shield Final as they won 3-5 to 0-2 against Clara.
Gowran Primary School girls enjoyed great success in the Roinn B Final as they won 5-6 to 0-3 against St. Aidans Kilmanagh National School following wins against Thomastown and Rower-Inistioge in the Quarter-Final and respectively, while Rower-Inistioge won 4-3 to 1-1 against near neighbours Tullogher in the Shield Final.
Urlingford National School prevailed 6-7 to 3-6 against St. John of God in The Roinn C Final after having scored 7 goals in their Semi-Final win against Paulstown Goresbridge, while in the Shield Final Castlecomer won 2-4 to 1-1 against Mooncoin.
Tullaroan won a closely contested Roinn D Final as they won 3-1 to 1-4 against St. Annes after both schools scored 6 goals in their Semi-Final, while Danesfort easily won 3-8 to 0-1 against Graigue Skeough in The Roinn D Shield decider.
In The Roinn E competition, Dunnamaggin won the Cup Final 3-6 to 1-1 against Mullinavat, while Windgap won 5-3 to 1-1 against Moneenroe in the Shield decider.
Roinn F provided the biggest goal fest in the Cup Final as Presentation Kilkenny shaded a 13 goal thriller against city neighbours St. John’s Senior, with the Pres girls winning 7-4 to 6-5.
In the Semi-Finals, Presentation Kilkenny scored 6 goals in their 6-3 to 2-1 win against Conahy while St. John’s Senior scored 7 goals in their 7-2 to 1-2 win against St Aidans Kilmanagh’s 2nd Team. Both schools also scored 5 goals in their respective Quarter-Final wins.
Meanwhile, a close contest also emerged in The Shield decider as Carrickshock won by a solitary point against Slieverue. 3-0 to 2-2.
It’s been busy on the Hurling front also, with the Primary Schools Finals played in Nowlan Park including the Roinn A and B Finals that formed a double header last Friday night.
The A Final was won by St. Canices who defeated Gowran National School 2-5 to 1-4 as they completed The Roinn A Camogie/Hurling double.
The Gowran boys had a chance to make amends on Wednesday night as they played Mooncoin in the Country Cup Final in Nowlan Park.
Mooncoin will be attempting to complete the double after having won The Roinn B Final last Friday night. In an epic 11 goal thriller against Rower-Inistioge, the Suirsiders won 6-10 to 5-8.
The Gowran Boys have reached all 4 finals possible again this season, similar to last season between football and hurling in both Championship and the Country Cup Final. That’s an incredible acheivement.
They were going for the Country Cup double on Wednesday Night having won the Football Final in the winter months
Bennttsbridge won The Roinn C Final 1-9 to 1-6 against Mullinavat after having scored 5 goals in the 5-9 to 2-4 win against Lisdowney.
Kilkenny CBS and Castlecomer Boys played the Roinn C Shield Final last Monday, with the Castlecomer boys winning on a 4-04 to 1-01 scoreline. While The Roinn D competition still has to be completed.
Windgap lost out to Tullaroan on a scoreline of 8-10 to 1-07.Tullaroan having qualified for the final with Windgap winning 2-6 to 2-2 against Carrickshock, while Tullaroan won 2-3 to 1-1 against Dunnamaggin.
The Roinn E Final was contested last Monday between near neighbours Johnstown and Galmoy, with Galmoy winning on a 3-05 to 1-08 scoreline.
It’s such a special and glorious occassion playing in a Primary Schools Final. It’s a day that lives long in the memory as it’s the first Final for so many and it’s an unforgettable experience.
