By DARREN KELLY

Calasanctius College Oranmore prepare for the biggest hurling game in the school’s history this Saturday when they got up against three-time champions Cross & Passion Ballycastle in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior B Final in Ballyshannon in Donegal (2pm).

The Galway school overcame a national semi-final at the third time of asking when they finished with six scores unanswered to edge out Wexford’s Enniscorthy CBS on a 1-22 to 2-15 scoreline in Rathdowney two weeks ago.

Six has been the magic number for the team managed by Niall Armstrong, Alan Coyle, Jack Grealish and Pat Malone. After beating Portumna Community School, Seamount Kinvara, and Coláiste Mhuire Ballygar to reach the provincial final, they called on all their reserves to secure silverware.

Calasanctius trailed by six points at half-time against a St Cuan’s Castleblakeney side which featured 10 of last weekend’s senior D Gaelic football winners, but two bursts of six scores unanswered allowed them comeback and run out 0-21 to 0-18 victors in Duggan Park.

Even with versatility and mobility regarding starting positions, there is a settled look to the Calasanctius line-up which has featured 20 players in their last two outings.

Goalkeeper Harry Keady produced a late save in the Connacht Final against St Cuan’s; Thomas Blake has been reliable at full-back; while Fionn Fahy moved from corner to centre-back seamlessly for the All-Ireland semi-final against Enniscorthy.

2024 Galway minor Gaelic footballer Sean Martyn returned from injury to take his place in the side; Alan Connaughton, Shay Rabbitt, and Tiernan Grealish have been ever present; while Ciaran McDonagh is a strong option who can also be pushed up to midfield.

Charlie Healy will likely be joined by captain Eanna Costello in that position, though Colm Burke can’t be discounted, although having scored 0-19 in two games, he is likely to stand on the ’40 and be the focal point of the attack.

Gus Lohan (son of Frank and nephew of Clare manager Brian) struck 1-5 against Enniscorthy; Michael Leahy was the Connacht Final hero with 0-6 from play; Jake Keady also contributed three points the last day; while Matthew Furey and Darragh King has done the spadework for others to shine.

Jack Cormican just missed out starting the semi-final, while Stephen Ruane, Liam Burke, and Niall de Paor will be the utility options from the bench. The good news is all players are fit and ready, leaving the management plenty to consider before naming their starting 15.

“We have the worst job trying to pick 15,” said Armstrong, “but it’s the lads that are really pushing themselves. We have a squad of 30 and that is so, so important for us. Any of them could play and that’s the truth. We’re really lucky in that sense.

“We’ll just continue to work hard in the next few days. I’m looking forward to this Saturday and look it; we’ll give it a go. We’re up against a real, real serious outfit.

“You’re testing yourself against the best clubs of Ireland. We’re just in a final for the very first time.  We’ve been in two semi-finals before this year, I think in 2020 and 2015 and we were well, well beaten.”

Similar enough to the Senior A competition, St Raphael’s Loughrea are the only previous Galway winners of the Paddy Buggy Cup. They took the title in 2019, while Coláiste Bhaile Chláir came up just short in the decider three years later.

But in order for Calasanctius Oranmore to join a short list of All-Ireland schools champions from the west, they must overcome the best that Ulster has to offer.

Pictured: Gus Lohan celebrates after scoring a goal for Calasanctius College in their semi-final win over St Mary’s CBS from Enniscorty a fortnight ago. Photo: Joe O’Shaughenssy.