Cumann na mBunscol 2025/26 - An Update!

Summary: Cumann na mBunscol Cheatharlach kicked off at the start of September with the usual buzz of excitement. Read about the teams’ progress so far!

As September turns into October, both the boys’ and girls’ teams have played three games each with both teams enjoying victories, improving their skills and having plenty of fun along the way.

Training began in early September at Coolkenno GAA pitch as many 5^th class students joined the senior panels for the first time. Mr Gavin Byrne is coaching the cailíní while Mr Shane Byrne is the bainisteoir of the buachaillí.

Game 1 saw us welcome Borris NS to Coolkenno. The boys were up first and played some really lovely football but struggled to find the target. The half-time score was Borris 0-3, Ballyconnell 0-0. Cathal Butler quickly put Ballyconnell on the scoreboard with a nice point at the start of the 2^nd half. Regan Rossiter burst through for a goal to reduce the deficit to one point. The defence was working well with Niall Deegan cleaning up in the full-back line. Try as they might though, the Ballyconnell boys couldn’t get level and in the end Borris NS won by three points – 1-6 to 1-3.

The girls’ game with Borris NS was a real goal-fest with the game ending 5-6 to 4-3 in favour of Ballyconnell. Maddie Cahill and Sara O’Grady shared the 5 goals as our cailíní got off to a great start in the competition. Ciara Nolan and Hannah Lawlor stood out at midfield too.

Game 2 saw us make the short trip to Grange to take on Grange NS. This time it was the girls who were up first. Grange may have defeated our girls in the Roinn 2A final 3 years ago but they proved no match for Ballyconnell here as our girls ran out 4-3 to 0-0 winners with Sara O’Grady once again getting among the goals and Emily Griffin grabbing her first goal for the school. Aoife Nolan achieved the rare feat of conceded no goals or points!

The boys looked in trouble when they went 3-1 to 0-1 down after 15 minutes but 4 points on the trot just before half-time (from the Jamies – 3 for Timmins and 1 for Donohoe) brought them right back into it at 3-1 to 0-5 at half-time. Ballyconnell really took over in the second half with the team racking up the points and adding goals for good measure – Jamie Timmins hitting a second half hat-trick while Peter O’Sé and Sam Willoughby came off the bench to get a goal each. Mason Murphy was very accurate from frees. Aaron Denton made his first appearance of the year at full back. The final score was 5-13 to 5-3.

Game 3 took place last week with Tinryland visiting Coolkenno. The girls started strongly taking a two-point lead quickly before Tinryland got back with 1-1 to take the lead. The defence then tightened up with Kate Murphy, Florrie Cosgrove, Emily Hickey and Anna Yuryna outstanding. Sara O’Grady kept up her goal-scoring run by smashing in a few more while Catherine Byrne also found the net for her first score for the senior Cumann na mBunscol team. With such great performances, it’s no surprise the girls made it 3 wins from 3; winning 5-6 to 1-4.

The boys were involved in a real battle with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions during the game. The two Jamies were once again a big threat in the full-forward line while Dany Yuryn showed great anticipation in the full-back line to stop Tinryland in their tracks. Tinryland scored two quick goals to lead 2-3 to 1-3 at half-time. Similar to the Grange match, we raised our level in the second half with Darragh Coleman-Murray, Regan Rossiter and Mason Murphy playing with great courage. Jamie Timmins kept up his goal-scoring streak with another great strike while Peter O’Shea also found the net. At the back, goalkeeper Oskaras Stonkus made some incredible saves, throwing himself at several shots which seemed unstoppable! When Christy O’Rourke’s final whistle sounded, the final score was Ballyconnell 3-11 Tinryland 3-6.

Our next game is home to Rathvilly this Friday. Next week, we play Ballinabranna away. All to play for!

The boys’ panel is: Oskaras Stonkus, Dany Yuryn, Jack Dempsey, Niall Deegan, Aaron Denton, Max Finnegan, Reuben Wilson, Darragh Coleman-Murray, Regan Rossiter, Cathal Butler, Mason Murphy, Jamie Timmins, Jamie Donohue, Peter O’Shea, Patrick Flaherty, Thomas Salama

The girls’ panel is: Aoife Nolan, Florrie Cosgrove, Anna Yuryna, Kate Murphy, Emily Hickey, Hannah Lawlor, Ciara Nolan, Caoimhe Nolan, Sara O’Grady, Maddie Cahill, Aoife Bolger, Layna Cushe, Catherine Byrne, Emily Griffin, Sarah O’Toole, Kyla Cummins-Kelly, Charlotte Holligan, Ellie Jackman