Cumann na mBunscol- Carnival Of Finals A Great Success

The 2024 Allianz Cumann na mBunscol football finals were played in Croke Park last week and amid the noise, colour and excitement, we saw some of the great stars of the future play brilliant football. 

The presence of Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Jarlath Burns, made it very special for children and teachers. 

20 finals were played over two days with one of the biggest attendances ever. 

Dozens of busses ferried excited fans to GAA Headquarters. 

Hats, flags and banners were made in school colours and the contest for the ‘Best Banner’ award will keep the adjudicators busy for some time. 

The football took centre-stage, of course, and the very first game on Day 1 saw two great schools - Scoil Chiaráin, Donnycarney, and O’Connell’s - face off for one of the oldest cups in Cumann na mBunscol - Corn Chumann na nGael. 

Donnycarney came out on top with their goalkeeper Adam O’Connor giving an exhibition. He’s surely in line for a ‘Cool Báire’ award later in the month. 

Day one also saw the girls from Holy Trinity NS, Donaghmede, succeed in Corn Tadhg Kenny. 

Tadhg, who is Uachtarán of Cumann na mBunscol and a legend of Raheny GAA club, presented his cup to Jessica Lee Doyle, a grand niece of Bobby Doyle. 

Emma Canavan, who also lined out for the Donaghmede girls, is a niece of former Dublin star, Pat Canavan. 

The GAA has just decided to call the Div 1 National football league cup after Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. 

While Mícheál was alive, he came to Croke Park to present Corn Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh to the captains of Scoil Assaim from Raheny and John Paul NS from Malahide who shared the cup as the game ended in a draw. 

The 2024 champions are Bayside NS. Led by Jack Travers and Manus Early, they were impressive winners against St. Brigid’s, Killester. 

The boy who lifted the cup was Sam Flanagan. 

The Flanagan family are steeped in football, hurling and everything GAA and Naomh Barróg. 

Sam has already represented Cumann na mBunscol against Antrim just like his brother, Joe, who has played senior hurling for Dublin and was on the Naomh Barróg team that won the Dublin Senior 2 club hurling final on Saturday night. 

The last final on day one was played for a new cup in honour of a founder of Cumann na mBunscol from South Kerry. 

Corn Geoffrey Keating was lifted by joint captains Callan McGovern and Darren Gibson from St. Killian’s NS, Kingswood. 

The new cup was presented by Emma Wallace, a granddaughter of Geoffrey Keating. 

Her two sons, Adam and Rory Dyball, play for Kilmacud Crokes and played for Carysfort NS in a Cumann na mBunscol hurling finals in 2013. 

Their grandfather’s legacy made it possible. 

Christy O’Connell and Christy O’Riordan represented St. Mary’s GAA club in Cahirciveen and Reenard club in the parish of Geoffrey Keating. 

The most eagerly anticipated Cumann na mBunscol football final is always Corn Kitterick for division one schools. 

The standard is always high and is a good indicator of the present and future standard of Dublin football. 

The cup, called Corn Sweet Afton until 1988, has been won by some of the greatest Dublin footballers including Des Foley, Cormac Costello and Barney Rock. 

Barney was present in Croke Park last week to hand over the cup he won in 1976 with Sacred Heart NS, Ballygall. 

He presented it to the Bishop Galvin NS captain, Timmie Sheehan, who had given an exhibition of football for the Templeogue side. 

He scored five points while Harry Cowzer and Ryan Spencer contributed two goals apiece. St. Mary’s BNS, Rathfarnham were worthy finalists. 

They are previous winners of Corn Kitterick and will be back.

It’s always special to see schools make their first appearance at Cumann na mBunscol finals day. 

St. Eithne’s GNS from Edenmore brought big smiles, passion, endeavour and skilful play as they were cheered on by the entire school and the neighbouring boys from St. Malachy’s BNS. 

Scoil Chríost Rí, from Belgard, took home Corn Pádraig Mac Ghiolla Bharraigh after a memorable occasion for both sides. 

Scoil Maelruáin, from Old Bawn, have a proud record in Cumann na mBunscol and have made multiple visits to Croke Park for Finals. 

This year they reached two finals. 

Their girls’ team played in Corn Seán Mac An Bhreithimh and were managed by Maria Ryan and Eve Conlon. 

The boys were in the Corn Frank Cahill decider and were looked after by Michael Dunne and Brian Mac Cormac. 

They didn’t bring any cups back to Tallaght on this occasion but they went home with gold medals - Cumann na mBunscol’s prize for the wonderful achievement of reaching a Croke Park final - and the knowledge that they did their great school proud.