Abbey VS 2-17

Dunmore CS 1-13

By Ivan Smyth at Kent Park

A nine-point haul from All-Ireland winning minor Colm Costello was not enough to prevent Dunmore Community School from suffering defeat at the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland PPS Senior B Football Championship in Sligo on Saturday.

Abbey Vocational School were deserving winners as their corner forwards Conor McCahill and Conor Meehan combined to kick 1-9. The Donegal side also possessed defenders who provided no shortage of options on the overlap, a midfield that thwarted attacks and kick fine scores, while their half forward line linked the play to great effect.

Although the full-forward trio excelled for the winners, their half-forward sector of Oisín Mogan and the Carr brothers – Turlough and Seanan –  was also integral to Abbey’s victory. The Carrs’ father Shane played inter county football with Donegal and his sons look potential stars of the future.

From a Dunmore CS perspective, a disastrous start proved damaging as they shipped 1-3 without reply in the opening five minutes. From there, they were chasing the game and despite no shortage of vim and vigour, they were only able to move within a score on one occasion in this semi-final. Abbey were able to exploit the space in front of the Dunmore CS full back line with Carlos O’Gara and Tom Hughes’ side forced to push up as they sought to chase the game.

The Ulster champions had eight scorers on the day while just four players found the target for Dunmore CS. Colm Costello was exceptional for the North Galway school as he battled valiantly despite often being double and triple teamed in attack. The underage star kicked 0-9, which included two final quarter points from play that were arguably the finest scores of the day.

Pictured: Dunmore Community School’s Colm Costello who scored nine points in their All-Ireland PPS Senior B Football semi-final defeat to Abbey Community School in Sligo on Saturday.