Cornafulla find extra gear to edge out Ballybay boys

Allianz Roscommon Cumann na mBunscol Large Schools Boys Final

Cornafulla NS 2-11 Ballybay CNS 1-12 (AET)

By Kevin Egan

Cornafulla are the Cumann na mBunscol kingpins for the second year in succession after they edged out a thrilling large schools final last week.

They clinched victory in the second half of extra-time when Fabian Kavanagh finished off a superb team move with an unstoppable shot that turned a one-point deficit into a two-point lead at the time when it mattered most.

With a large crowd there to bask in the warm sunshine, these two sides lived up to the occasion by producing a memorable game that would stand comparison with anything that has ever been played out between teams from the Kiltoom and Cam parish and their neighbours from St Peter’s and Drum.

Kavanagh’s stunning goal, hammered into the net after crashing into the Ballybay crossbar on the way, was ultimately the score that settled the game and ensured that Cornafulla retained their title. However, there were several moments where this contest could have swung either way, and there was absolutely no stage where either school could say that they were in control.

Ballybay did make the brighter start to take a 1-3 to 0-1 lead, with Kevin Kilduff’s goal arriving in between some sumptuous points from Daniel Higgins, and another good score from Seán Norton.

Cornafulla were taking on water at the back as they struggled to deal with the quick transfer of possession from one end of the pitch to another and it took a brave block from Sebastian Cullen to deny Ballybay a second goal. That big defensive play felt like a huge turning point as Cornafulla worked the play down to the road end of the pitch and found the net themselves through Aaron Martin, and from then on, it was impossible to separate the teams.

Cillian Gavin, Rian Mulvihill and Harry Hewitt grew more and more into the game in the middle third and it was their influence more than any other single factor that meant that Cornafulla found their feet, and soon they were back on terms. A wonderful solo score from Cillian Martin, a slick team move that resulted in Fabian Kavanagh taking a pass from Cullen and finishing, and then another big block from Cian McGoldrick turned defence into attack and let to Kavanagh levelling the game.

Throughout all this, the Ballybay defence was conceding nothing easy and they edged themselves back in front before half-time, but that didn’t last long as some highlight reel points from Gavin and Mulvihill turned the tide in the second half.

By now the game had found a pattern, which was that Ballybay were exerting plenty of pressure, but struggling to convert enough of that possession and territory into scores. Ben Gilligan was a huge factor in this as he made some outstanding plays in goal for Cornafulla, and as the wide count mounted for Ballybay, it looked like the Kiltoom school would fall just short.

Instead, they eventually found an equaliser and forced two extra periods of five-minutes each, with the score at 1-10 apiece at the end of normal time.

Daniel Higgins moved them two up with a brace of points in extra-time before Harry Hewitt halved the gap, and Hewitt set up a glorious chance for an equaliser, only for Conor Kinahan to step in with a heroic block that kept his team on the front foot.

Kinahan, Cullen Grehan, Marcus O’Dwyer and Ciarán Sullivan all held the fort well for Ballybay, but now it was Cornafulla’s time to chase the game, and when they did, they came up with a score worthy of winning any championship final, anywhere.

Cillian Gavin and Aaron Martin engineered the opening with strong runs and slick passes, but there was still a lot of work to do when Martin played in Kavanagh, maybe 10 metres out from the Ballybay goal. With defenders throwing their bodies in to get a block and the goalkeeper well-positioned, anything less than a perfect finish wouldn’t have cut the mustard. Kavanagh found the top corner, however, and this long and fabled rivalry had just had another chapter completed.

Player of the match: Daniel Higgins (Ballybay NS). Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this game wasn’t how good the best players were, but how there were absolutely no weak links on either side. Every player that took the field knew what they were about, and had plenty to offer, in one sense or another. Yet in that packed field between close contenders, there was a natural style and class about Higgins’ play that made him the obvious choice here. His use of the ball, his finishing, his ability to bring others around him into the game, was all superb.

Alongside Higgins, Conor Kinahan and Kevin Kilduff were very impressive for Ballybay, while on the side of the winners, players like Aaron Martin, Cillian Gavin and Harry Hewitt all dominated the middle, with Cian McGoldrick and Fabian Kavanagh caught the eye at either end. Best for Cornafulla, however, were Ben Gilligan in goal, and Rian Mulvihill, who looks to have every skill in the game in his locker.

Cornafulla NS: Ben Gilligan, Cian Dunning, Robert Naughton, Sebastian Cullen, Cian McGoldrick, Aaron Martin, Cillian Gavin, Rian Mulvihill, Harry Hewitt, Paddy Lawless, Fabian Kavanagh, Diarmuid Sammon, Tommy Smith, Tomi Akinfaye, Seán Fitzgerald, Thomas Keddle, Anthony Macken, Frank Macken, James Connaughton, Joe McCarron, Niall McGinley.

Ballybay CNS: Aaron Lally, Conor Kinahan, Cullen Grehan, Marcus O’Dwyer, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Thomas Lennon, Kevin Kilduff, Thomas Gallagher, Seán Norton, Daniel Higgins, Aaron Casey, Bill Crehan, Peter McGuirke, Shane Cahill, Fionn Keenan, Charlie Henehan.

Referee: Paul Fahy.