Granard prove too strong for Mayo border school in All Ireland Final

St. Nathy’s of Ballaghaderreen were left to rue missed opportunities as a powerful Cnoc Mhuire Granard side claimed the honours in the Paddy Drummond Cup Senior B Final.

The border school made a dream start in Ballinamore. Goalkeeper Patrick Gaynor opened the scoring with a two pointer from a placed ball inside the opening half-minute, before Cian O’Donnell replied with a free for the Longford outfit.

St. Nathy’s then struck a breakthrough on three minutes when Conor Moriarty produced a superb individual goal. Collecting a precise delivery from centre-forward Dean Casey, Moriarty danced past two defenders before firing to the net.

Cnoc Mhuire gradually settled and began to assert themselves. Karl O’Hara, introduced before throw-in despite not being named to start, made a huge impact and would go on to play a starring role before leaving the field to warm applause from the Longford supporters.

A big chance arrived on seven minutes when Dylan Ledwith tested Gaynor, but the St. Nathy’s goalkeeper produced an excellent save. The Granard side continued to build momentum with points from Odhran Madden and Brendan Martin Burns, the latter curling over an impressive effort from a tight angle.

James Puncheon briefly steadied St. Nathy’s with a point, but Cnoc Mhuire surged ahead soon after. Burns added another score before Ben Blessington edged the Longford school in front for the first time on 23 minutes.

Midfielder Odhran Madden followed with an excellent long-range two pointed free before the decisive moment of the half arrived. Aaron Plunkett burst forward from deep and rifled a low finish past Gaynor to the net.

Moriarty responded with a fine point from the endline to keep St. Nathy’s in touch, but they trailed at the interval on a scoreline of 1-8 to 1-4.

Cnoc Mhuire resumed strongly after the break, Daniel Corr opening the second-half scoring before Sean Buckley replied with a free for St. Nathy’s.

Plunkett threatened another goal as the Longford side continued to press, while Cian O’Donnell added a point from play. St. Nathy’s rallied briefly with scores from Dean Casey, Ryan O’Sullivan and a Dean Duffy free during a productive ten-minute spell.

However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed late on. Karl O’Hara blasted home a superb goal nine minutes from time, and moments later a flowing Granard move ended with Ben Blessington’s effort rebounding off the crossbar into the path of Niall O’Donnell, who finished to the net.

Cian O’Donnell added a final point for the winners, while Dylan Giblin replied with a late free for St. Nathy’s.

Despite a spirited effort and a bright start, St. Nathy’s ultimately found the Granard school a step too strong on the day as Cnoc Mhuire powered their way to All-Ireland glory.