Mayo schoolboys involved as potent attacking teams meet in senior B final

Two of the most potent attacking sides in this year's Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior B football competition collide this weekend as St. Nathy's College of Ballaghaderreen take on Longford's Cnoc Mhuire Granard in the Paddy Drummond Cup final on Saturday in Ballinamore (2.30 p.m.), writes Caoimhín Rowland.

St. Nathy's, with a number of Mayo schoolboys involved, arrive into the decider on the back of a demolition job on Munster champions Mount St. Michael, Rosscarbery, running out emphatic 3-18 to 0-11 winners in their semi-final.

The Connacht champions were slow to find their rhythm early on but once they did, there was simply no stopping them.

Two first-half goals from Ryan O'Sullivan and Conor Moriarty laid the foundation before Declan Duffy's 38th minute finish put the contest to bed entirely.

A second-half blitz of 1-11 to 0-1 underlined their devastating firepower and their defensive solidity, with Mount St. Michael kept scoreless from play in the final period.

The star of the show was Roscommon minor Dean Casey, who torched the Cork side with an eight-point haul, while midfielder Sean Buckley and a series of impactful substitutes ensured the scoreboard kept ticking.

St. Nathy's haven't reached an All-Ireland final since 2018, and this group will be hungry to go the extra step.

Standing in their way is Cnoc Mhuire, Granard, a side that looks every bit as dangerous. The Leinster champions swept aside Ulster champions Aquinas Grammar School, Belfast, in similarly ruthless fashion, 1-21 to 0-7, with their two-pointer game proving a lethal weapon throughout.

Midfielder Odhran Madden was outstanding, contributing five points (including a brace of two-pointers), while the full-forward line of Brendan Martin Burns, Cian O'Donnell and Ben Blessington terrorised the Belfast defence for a combined 11 points between them.

The game was effectively over at half-time, Cnoc Mhuire leading 1-12 to 0-4 after Sean Fagan rattled the net with a composed finish in the first half. The north Longford school, drawing players from Longford and Cavan, showed genuine class and composure throughout.

This shapes up as a fascinating tactical battle, St. Nathy's raw scoring power and defensive strength against Cnoc Mhuire's slick combination play and two-pointer accuracy. St. Nathy's will need to keep their discipline to deny Odhran Madden from distance throughout the encounter.

Both provincial champions have proven they can win convincingly, and both carry momentum into the final. Expect a fiery battle.