It was a busy year for schools football and as ever plenty of silverware came to the county. Dunshaughlin Youngsters impress Football in Dunshaughlin Community College receives a big boost when they reached the All-Ireland Vocational Schools' JFC (U16) final where, unfortunately, they lost to Athenry VS. But there was a Leinster success along the way and this young team possesses the talent to achieve big things in the future. The provincial triumph was achieved with a 2-11 to 3-5 victory over hosts Bridgetown VS, the title holders, who notched two goals in the opening period to open up a wind-assisted 2-4 to 0-6 lead at the break. They stretched the advantage to seven points after the turnaround, but Dunshaughlin got on top subsequently. Conor Devereux boosted Dunshaughlin with a brace of points and when Eamonn Bowe goaled twice they had built up the momentum to go on and claim victory. Bowe made a highly significant contribution of 2-2 and Eoin Hegarty registered four points. Dunshaughlin had to withstand a late rally to see off Downpatrick De La Salle in the All-Ireland semi-final at Dundalk IT where they had Bryan Davis sent off at the three-quarter stage. Conor Devereux's goal helped them to an early 1-2 to 0-0 lead and they were ahead by 1-5 to 0-4 at the interval after brilliant goalkeeper Michael McCarthy had come to the rescue with a great save. Downpatrick cut the deficit to the minimum early in the second half, but goals from James Rattigan and Danny Thynne helped Dunshaughlin to move into a very comfortable advantage. However, the dismissal of Davis didn't help and the Ulster champions controlled the last quarter as they reduced the arrears steadily. They scored a goal, but it would have been more but for McCarthy's heroics and this, allied to some courageous defending, enabled Dunshaughlin to hold out and book their passage to the final against Athenry VS at Rath, Co. Offaly. A failure to score beyond the eighth minute of the second half cost Dunshaughlin on the big day. Davis goaled on the stroke of half-time to earn them a 1-7 to 1-3 lead, with Hegarty (four), Devereux (two) and Emmet Staunton getting the points in the opening period. Points from Staunton and Bowe and a Thynne goal helped them to push 2-9 to 1-4 ahead, but Athenry were back on level terms (3-6 to 2-9) with 10 minutes remaining and finished strongest to claim the title on a 4-8 to 2-9 score line. Dunshaughlin were managed by Mick O'Keeffe and Conor Brennan. The Dunshaughlin CC team in the All-Ireland final was - M McCarthy; C O'Flaherty, P Kennedy, S Joyce; E Staunton (0-2), C O'Brien, A Doyle; F McGorman, N Hannon; B Davis (1-0), E Hegarty (0-4), D Thynne (1-0); E Bowe (0-1), C Devereux (0-2), J Rattigan. Subs - A O'Brien for McGorman, N Clusker for Rattigan, S Connolly for Davis, McGorman for A O'Brien, E Hannon for N Hannon. Ashbourne secure Leinster title Ashbourne Community School's All-Ireland Vocational Schools' SFC dream ended when St Malachy's of Castlewellan defeated them in the semi-final, but before that they had demonstrated rich promise when clinching the provincial title with a final win over Wexford's Bridgetown in Carlow. Joe Gibney's team combined committed defending with polished attacking play and a shining star among many stars was wing-back Iarlait O'Donnell who was magnificent in the thoroughly deserved 1-9 to 0-6 provincial final victory. Even in the absence of the injured John Boderick, Ashbourne looked good and after registering four wides in the opening eight minutes they pushed ahead by 1-2 to 0-0 at the end of the first quarter thanks to points from the superb Andrew Tormey and Liam Tolan and a Ross Hanway goal at the end of a very good move. The half-time advantage stood at 1-5 to 0-2 after Hanway, Tormey and Stephen Kennedy had notched the other points and with both teams adding four points in the second period, Ashbourne were comfortable winners. Tormey and Bryan Menton were on the mark as they led by 1-7 to 0-4 and Menton almost sealed victory when his goal-bound shot was saved on the line. Tormey, who registered 0-5 overall, scored the remaining Ashbourne points in the second period, while three players were sent off near the end, including the winners' Gavin Kennedy who appeared to be harshly dismissed. The All-Ireland semi-final against St Malachy's in Drogheda was lost due to a poor first half performance from Ashbourne who trailed by 0-2 to 2-6 at the interval, before holding the Down school scoreless for 35 of the 36 minutes played in the second period. It took the brilliance of goalkeeper Darren Marchello to prevent them from being further behind at the half-way\z\z stage, while the two goals conceded in the opening half were of the sloppy variety. The Meath lads also missed chances in that period when the absence of the injured Broderick and the suspended Gavin Kennedy was sorely felt. They improved in the second half when they added seven points to cut the gap to 0-9 to 2-6, but they needed a goal. Substitute Gary Naughton was denied by a great save and with St Malachy's notching their only point of the second period six minutes into injury time they were safe, winning by 2-7 to 0-9. Tormey top scored for Ashbourne with four points and Sean Curran (two), JP Cassidy, Menton and Gavin Coyle also contributed. The Ashbourne CS team in the semi-final was - D Marchello; D Coyle, JP Cassidy (0-1), D Lawlor; P Galligan, S Curran (0-2), I O'Donnell; B Menton (0-1), S O'Brien; R Hanway, S Kavanagh, C Maguire; G Coyle (0-1), A Tormey (0-4), L Tolan. Subs - A Cantwell for D Coyle, G Naughton for Cantwell. Franciscan College, Gormanston, came up short in their quest for a first Leinster Colleges' SFC title since 1974, but they enjoyed a highly commendable run to the final where they lost by the minimum margin to Athlone CC. That was their first appearance in the decider in 28 years and their 2008 football programme started in bleakest January with a victory over hosts St Benildus College, Stillorgan, by 2-9 to 1-7. This was a poor game played in dreadful underfoot conditions and losers' 'keeper Conor Row made errors which gifted Gormanston their two goals. The first came after eight minutes when Ruairi Moore found the net, but Gormanston were guilty of slack defending when Brian Hanamy netted for St Benildus16 minutes later and the Dublin side led by 1-5 to 1-1 at the interval. They were still four points clear at the three-quarter stage, but Gormanston battled back to parity and finished strongest as Philip Duff's injury time goal sealed victory. Silverpark, the home of Kilmacud Crokes, was the venue for a quarter-final against Colaiste Eoin where a hard-earned 1-7 to 0-7 win was achieved. Points from Mark Battersby (three), Tadhg McHugh and Kevin Whyte helped Gormanston lead by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, but it was all square (0-6 each) at the three-quarter stage. Eabhan Connolly's brilliant save was vital in a tight contest and on the counter-attack Moore goaled for Gormanston to propel them towards the last four where they faced Good Counsel, the conquerors of St Patrick's CS, Navan, in the previous round. This was Gormanston's first semi-final appearance in two decades and they marked it with a 1-8 to 1-5 victory at Athy where they held out despite not registering a score in the last 16 minutes. Skryne's Ciaran Lenehan and Kevin Towell of St Colmcille's were among the defensive stars, while midfielders David Ryan of Skryne, a son of former Meath player Mick, and Walterstown's Mark Reynolds, a son of Christy who was on the Gormanston team that won the All-Ireland title in 1973, worked very hard. With Battersby a big threat at centre-forward, Gormanston opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter, but they faded and Good Counsel were level (0-4 each) at the interval. A fine goal from David Carrick four minutes after the restart helped Gormanston push 1-6 to 0-4 clear and they were looking good. Substitute Ger Aylward had scores a decisive late goal against St Patrick's and he got another in this game which left Good Council trailing by 1-4 to 1-6 11 minutes from the end. He then pointed when he might have goaled and with the pressure on Gormanston 'keeper Connolly saved well from Kevin O'Grady. It was tense stuff, but heroic defending enabled Gormanston to hold out and book a final ticket against Athlone CC. As manager Kevin Browne and selectors Niall Flynn and John Levins fine-tuned their preparations for the big day at Longford's Pearse Park hopes were high that an overdue title could be secured. However, Athlone broke their hearts when a stunning late point into the stiff breeze by Padraig Cunningham gave them a dramatic 0-10 to 0-9 victory. Gormanston twice led by three points in the second half, but loss of concentration proved their downfall. With Ryan and Reynolds impressing at midfield, Gormanston were the better team for long spells. Lenehan was magnificent at full-back and Whyte and Carrick were dangerous in attack, but they were forced to switch Battersby to defence to marshal the crafty Ian Coffey and that robbed them of a key forward. Things were looking good when they led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break after playing against the wind thanks to points from Battersby (two), Ciaran Reddin, Duff and Whyte and the advantage stood at 0-9 to 0-6 12 minutes into the second period after Whyte (two), Ryan and Battersby had added to their tally. But they didn't score for the last 18 minutes as Athlone restored parity and then Cunningham snatched victory with his brilliant point. The Gormanston team in the final was - E Connolly; P Callaghan, C Lenehan, K Towell; R Tallon, C Mullen, C Reddin (0-1); D Ryan (0-1), M Reynolds; R Moore, M Battersby (0-3), T McHugh; D Carrick, K Whyte (0-3), P Duff (0-1). Subs - A Howley for Duff, D Levins for Reynolds. Pat's exit at quarter-final hurdle St Patrick's CS, Navan, failed in their attempt to retain the Leinster senior crown when they lost to Good Counsel by 1-7 to 1-8 at the quarter-final hurdle in Athy. They had opened their campaign with a runaway 5-9 to 0-3 victory over Portmarnock CS and then beat Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar, by 2-10 to 3-6 at Pairc Tailteann. The team that lost to Good Counsel was - S McCabe; C Lynn, D Kelly, N Galligan; M McCormack, A O'Sullivan, D Moran; D Smyth, S Tobin; P McKeever, A Khan, C Lawlor; J Regan (1-5), R Barry, A Kearney (0-2). Subs - J O'Reilly for Lawlor, F Ross for McKeever, P Lyness for Tobin, D Morley for Lynn. Loreto girls edged out in decider After a highly impressive run to the decider, St Michael's Loreto, Navan, were edged out by Moate CS in the Leinster SFC 'B' final at Kinnegad, losing by 1-5 to 0-10. The Navan girls topped the Meath group and racked up a big score when beating Portmarnock by 4-16 to 1-1. Only Ashbourne ran them reasonably close, but Loreto won their semi-final meeting by five points. It all meant that confidence must have been high as they prepared for the provincial final. Full-back Ann Marie Copeland proved to be a big loss with an ankle injury and it was Moate who opened the scoring with a point, before Emma Harris got the Navan side off the mark when slotting over a free. The Westmeath side edged back in front, but points from Kate Byrne and Harris helped Loreto to be the minimum in front at the interval after playing with the wind. The signs were ominous when Moate equalised at the start of the second half and then tagged on five more points to take a decisive lead. A superb goal from Harris gave Loreto real hope, but it was Moate who were a couple of points clear at the final whistle. The Loreto team in the final was - O McLoughlin; S Duffy, S Sheridan, K McKenna; B O'Sullivan, R Considine, E Casserly; S Byrne (0-1), A Murray (0-1); K Byrne (0-1), J Farrelly, R Everard; S Coffey, S Monaghan, E Harris (1-2). Subs - A Murtagh for Everard, AM Copeland for McKenna, R Quinn, A O'Sullivan, E Whyte, L Matthews, A Swan, R Duggan, N Finnegan, S Crosby. Tweet

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