JOHN Cosgrove, Barry Murray, Christopher Donlon and Finian Cronin savour Dunmore Community School's Connacht final win.

DUNMORE CS AND ST CUAN’S SHINE

Schools now look forward to All-Ireland challenge

LAST weekend brought mixed fortunes for Galway’s representatives in Connacht Post Primary Senior A, C and D Football Championship finals.

Coláiste Bhaile Chláir’s attempts to join St. Jarlath’s, Tuam CBS (later St. Pat’s) and St. Mary’s on the province’s A roll of honour came unstuck against a St. Gerald’s, Castlebar outfit that proved effective front-runners from the opening quarter.

Dunmore Community School and St. Cuan’s College, Castleblakeney enjoyed better days and will go forward to represent Connacht in the coming weeks after their successes in B and D deciders, respectively.

Dunmore’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric with provincial silverware won at D, C and now B level since 2020. Their victory over Carrick-on-Shannon Community School was convincing and Ulster champions Abbey Vocational School from Donegal Town will be their All-Ireland semi-final opponents on Saturday week.

It completed a rare double as the schools’ boys followed in the footsteps of their girls who recently won provincial silverware at Senior C level. The yet-to-be determined winners of Leinster will provide their next challenge in early March.

St. Cuan’s, meanwhile, simply refused to be beaten and came from behind at the end of both normal and extra-time before a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Roscommon Community School. All-Ireland champions at the grade in 2018, the Castleblakeney side will face Ulster opposition, Scoil Mhuire from Buncrana, on Saturday week in the final four…

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