Mighty Scoil Mhuire agus Íde, SMI, are the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior Hurling Champions following a deserved 2-13 to 1-11 defeat of Boyne Com-munity School, Trim, (Meath) in Banagher, county Offaly.
The win marked a historic national breakthrough for the Newcastle West school, which was only established in 1992.
Goals in either half from Monagea pair Conor Hough and Gavin Dorgan proved crucial scores. The talented duo scored a brilliant 2-8 between them.
There were memorable scenes when hundreds of delirious schoolmates watched on as the superb captain Diarmuid Lyons lifted the Michael Cusack Cup.
SMI were under the joint management of Jer Moroney of Tournafulla and Patrickwell’s Kevin O’Brien.
Kevin suggested: “What we’re ultimately trying to do is create a hurling school in West Limerick that people can come to and play the game at a high level, so we want to push up the grades.
“From what I can see and from my own experience, hurling at schools level can give lads an extra chance to make county panels and that sort of thing. Ultimately that’s a goal for us, to get more lads playing for Lime-rick.”
He added: “The most positive thing has been that we have 42 lads on the panel and they’ve all really bought into it and gelled together as a group. It’s been a big squad effort and I feel like all 42 of them have developed and come on, which is great.
“Most of the team is there again next year. Thirteen of the starting 15 in the Munster Final are all eligible again next year so we probably weren’t envisaging this level of success this year.”
Meanwhile, SMI face Bailieborough Community School (Cavan) in the All-Ireland Junior Ladies’ Football Final today, Wednesday, at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, county Galway.
The Limerick and Munster champions are under the joint manage-ment of Evan Murphy and Ciara Brosnan, while captaincy is with Isabelle O’Brien of Feohanagh/Castlemahon.
Throw-in is at 2pm.