Glory for Charlestown at Mayo Cumann na mBunscol finals

by Patrick Hennelly

St. Attracta’s National School, Charlestown, certainly enjoyed their visit to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park yesterday as the schools girls’ and boys’ teams claimed Cumann na mBunscol county titles.

In this Division Two Boys Football final, the east Mayo side defeated Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, Westport, by 3-13 to 2-4.

The heavy rain made playing conditions difficult for both sides and at one stage during the second half referee Mel Kenny ordered both teams off the pitch for two minutes as a torrential downpour engulfed the venue.

The early stages of the first half were dominated by Charlestown and points from Luke McDermott, Tom Naughton (3) and a splendid goal by Dylan Healy, left Gaelscoil na Cruaiche with a mountain to climb.

The Gaelscoil managed to acquire their opening point of the game when their captain Shea O’Riain guided over a neat effort.

Charlestown responded in impressive fashion courtesy of a brace of goals from their busy corner-forward, Luke McDermott.

With half-time looming, the Westport school managed to reduce the deficit when Riain O’Maolruaidh’s speculative free ended up in the back of the net.

Early second half points from Charlestown’s Tom Naughton and Dáithí Gethins helped garner a 3-8 to 1-1 lead for the east Mayo school.

The Gaelscoil bravely continued to search for a way back into the joust, with Jack Renton scoring a tidy three-pointer.

However, Charlestown were the better team towards the end of the game and late points from Frank Muldoon (2) and M.J. Donohue, sealed the deal for the green and white.