Leinster Colleges honours for impressive St Patrick's CS Juniors
April 21, 2026
St Patrick's Classical School captain Conn Brennan accepts the Leinster JFC A Cup
St Patrick’s Classical School 4-14
Knockbeg College 0-17
St Patrick’s CS, Navan were crowned Leinster JFC A winners after a storming performance against Knockbeg College in Manguard Park, Hawkfield.
In a final that was delayed due to weather and the involvement of county minors on both sides, the battle between the North and South Leinster champions ignited within the first minute.
St Pat’s won the throw-in and attacked down the flank, with the ball ending in the hands of Harry McGuirk who fired to the top corner of the Knockbeg net for the game’s opening score.
Conn Brennan fired over a point after a fine run before Knockbeg hit two points to open their account.
An inviting ball from Tomas Proudfoot was won in the air by Eanna Kenny who turned his man to fire Pat’s second goal on eight minutes as the Navan school played into the strong breeze.
Knockbeg narrowed the gap to three with a couple of two point frees after McGuirk had scored two more points, before Pat’s got in for their third goal.
A brilliant one-two from centre back Michael Gormley saw him through on goal, and after the Knockbeg ‘keeper saved, Cormac McKenna was on hand to fire to an empty net.
Goal number four arrived shortly after, as wing back Oisin Giles drove forward, laid the ball off before grabbing the return and firing an unstoppable shot to the top corner with his left foot.
When the short whistle blew, Pat’s led 4-5 to 0-10.
Within a minute of the restart the lead was out to 10-points as McGuirk fired over a free and then landed a massive two-pointer from play.
With Pat’s now playing with the breeze, they controlled a lot of play and were comfortable defending the arc when Knockbeg had possession, They defended in numbers and turned over the ball countless times, before breaking for further scores.
A two-point free from McGuirk, a two-pointer from downtown by Brennan and further scores from McKenna and Patrick Travers saw Pat’s, who were managed by Seamus Peppard and Paddy Clarke, run out comfortable winners at the end.
Captain Conn Brennan raised the cup with great scenes of celebration involving the players and the Pat’s Ultras.
St Patrick’s CS – Ryan McDonnell (St Ultan’s), Art O’Neill (Dunderry), Niall Rogan (St Michael’s), Ben Browne (Simonstown Gaels), Oisín Giles 1-0 (Skryne), Michael Gormley (Gaeil Colmcille), Conor Larkin (Carnaross), Conn Brennan 0-3 (St Ultan’s, capt), Tomás Proudfoot (St Ultan’s), Eanna Kenny 1-0 (Simonstown Gaels), Cormac McKenna 1-1 (Wolfe Tones), Johnny Finnegan (Seneschalstown), James Heery (Seneschalstown), Patrick Travers 0-1 (St Ultan’s), Harry McGuirk 1-9 (Navan O’Mahony’s).
Subs – Eli Clynch (St Ultan’s) for Larkin, Joe Kearney (Simonstown Gaels) for Travers, Ruairi McDermott (Simonstown Gaels) for Kenny.
Panel members - Zach Jacob (Navan O’Mahony’s), Conan Tansey (Navan O’Mahony’s), Liam Roche (Walterstown), Rian Carolan (Simonstown Gaels), Charlie Reuter (Skryne), Charlie McHugh (Dunderry), Ben O’Rourke (Dunderry), Eli Gibbons (Ballivor), Jack Kenny (Ballivor), Andrew Ormsby (Navan O’Mahony’s), Cillian Fitzsimons (Navan O’Mahony’s), Darragh Reynolds (Walterstown), Jayden Gillen (Simonstown Gaels), Joseph McCann (Slane), Conor Fitzpatrick (Simonstown Gaels), Sean Clarke (Skryne), Conor Kelly (Walterstown), Emmet O’Neill (Slane), Darragh Ward (Navan O’Mahony’s), Kealan Sheerin (Ballivor), James Comasky (Dunderry).
