PHOTOS: Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Lú Autumn 2026 Finals in Darver

The week leading up to the first school mid-term break saw the culmination of nine Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Lú football competitions as boys and girls from the four corners of the county descended upon the Darver all-weather pitch in a bid to etch their schools’ names in CnmB history.

Monday saw the finals of four urban competitions played out. Concurrently, St Mary’s PPS and St Paul’s SNS played out the final of the main girls’ competition while Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire faced St Malachy’s GNS in the secondary competition final.

The two most dominant schools in girls’ urban football in recent years took home the silverware as St Mary’s PPS lifted Corn Oriel for the first time in four years, while Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire hoisted Sciath Uí Mhearúin.

St Paul’s showed steely determination as they stepped up to the Division One final this year and with all the good work going on in school and at the St Nicholas’ club, their time will soon come.

St Malachy’s GNS battled hard and likewise, the fantastic work being done in the school and at local club level will provide them with a fantastic springboard for honours in the future.

In the boys’ competitions, St Oliver Plunkett NS proved just a little too strong for their counterparts from St Oliver’s NS, Drogheda as they lifted Corn Sheamus Ó Maoltuille but the highlight of the night was the final of Corn Mhic Ardail.

A ding-dong battle saw the game go down to the wire but with a final scoreline of 8-4 to 6-5 Scoil Mhiure na nGael claimed the premier urban boys competition prize at the expense of a really strong St Paul’s SNS side.

On Tuesday, five rural finals were played out. Concurrently the boys and girls from two Cooley schools faced off against counterparts from two Togher schools in the 7 a-side competition finals.

Corn Setanta was won by the girls of Muchgrange NS as they ran out winners over Tullydonell NS while the boys from Rathcor NS made it a peninsula double as they defeated Dillonstown NS in the final of Sciath Uí Dhuinneachdha.

In the first year of its existence, Sciath an Fhómhair was contested by Scoil Naomh Buithe and Rampark NS. Both schools are no strangers to finals day over the past few years but it was the Monasterboice side who proced strongest as they ran out 4-5 to 2-2 winners on the night to be the first school to etch their name on the trophy.

The penultimate final of the week was the most exciting and keenly contested as the girls from St Mochta’s NS, Louth faced their neighbours from St Mary’s NS, Knockbridge.

A single point separated the sides at the break and with several changes of lead in the second half at the final whistle it was the Louth Village side who celebrated with a single point win as they lifted Corn Sheán Mac Cába.

After the heartache of such an agonising loss in the girls’ final, spirits of the Knockbridge school were lifted as they proved too strong for a fine Tullyallen NS team who had shown great skill and poise in their path to the final of Sciath Mhic Raoise.

But it was the St Mary’s side who ran out worthy winners a fine display of football to close out the night.

Cumann na mBunscol said that would like to thank all of their volunteers who have given their time freely this term to provide the pupils of Louth primary schools the opportunity to enjoy their respective competitions.

They would also like to thank all of the teachers and parents who promote gaelic games in their schools and finally would like to thank Louth GAA for the use of the Cullen Autoparts Training Grounds in Darver for their finals nights.