Lessons in Mayo county GAA finals taught at Foxford 'academy'
by Aiden Henry
WHEN the pairings for the three Mayo GAA club finals were determined – Knockmore v Ballina (senior), Moy Davitts v Crossmolina (intermediate) and Cill Chomáin v Bonniconlon (junior) – it became apparent that St. Joseph Secondary School, Foxford, would have a huge bearing on all of them.
For a start, many of the Knockmore players who will take the field against Ballina next Sunday have tasted success with St. Joseph’s on the national front as the school recorded All-Ireland titles in 2012 and 2020.
The same can be said about many of the present Moy Davitts team, who face Crossmolina the following weekend in the intermediate decider.
And the school's interest doesn’t finish there, as two former pupils – Nigel Reape and Sean McLoughlin – will be at the helm of Cill Chomáin, who play Bonniconlon in the junior decider. Nigel is the manager and Sean, who is also the caretaker in St. Joseph’s Secondary School, is a selector.
In 2012, under the managerment of Darragh McManamon (school principal), Sean Carey (former Kiltane and Mayo county footballer) and Sean McLoughlin (past pupil and the caretaker of the school), St. Joseph’s won their first ever All-Ireland colleges senior football title.
They repeated this feat again in 2020 by leading their senior team to national success for the second time.
Many players from both of those teams will be lining out for Knockmore and Moy Davitts over the next two weekends.
“It is remarkable that Knockmore and Moy Davitts have qualified for the senior and intermediate finals for us in that many of the players on the two teams were part of our two All-Ireland college teams,” said the principal.
He continued: “For us here in the school, these upcoming finals brings back great memories, with many of the players who helped bring great honour to the school in winning the two All-Ireland titles. We also have Sean (McLoughlin), our brilliant caretaker, and Nigel Reape in charge of Cill Chomáin, who will contest the junior championship final against Bonniconlon.
“As well as the many players who lined out in the two All-Ireland finals, there are others from Knockmore and Moy Davitts in between the years of the two national success that have served the school with distinction on the playing field will be lining out in these two county finals.
“While it is fantastic for Knockmore, Moy Davitts and Cill Chomáin to be looking forward to contesting the county finals, it is also very special for us here in St. Joseph’s Secondary School in that we have so many past pupils who starred for the school on the playing field now doing the business for their respective clubs.
“All we can do is to wish all the teams the very best. After Knockmore (senior) and Moy Davitts (intermediate) brought off the great double in 1996, maybe we might get a hat trick in 2024 with Knockmore, Moy Davitts and Cill Chomáin,” concluded Darragh.
The following were the players from Knockmore and Moy Davitts on the 2012 St. Joseph’s Secondary School team that won the All-Ireland: Knockmore – Darren McHale, David McHale and Colm Reape; Moy Davitts – Brian Heneghan, Alan Bourke, Padraig Ruane, Anthony Jordan and Oisin McHugh.
The players on the 2020 St. Joseph’s team were: Knockmore – Sean Holmes, Caolan Hopkins, Liam Durcan, Conor Flynn, Ryan McDonnell, Brian McMahon, Connell Dempsey, Adam Battle, Adam Naughton and Charlie Burke; Moy Davitts – Conor Reid, Cian McHale, Ryan Kenny and Colm Reape.
In between 2012 and 2020, Aidan Orme, Nathan Armstrong, Kieran King, Darragh Staunton, Peter Naughton (Knockmore), Oisin Quinn, Neil Murphy, Fiachra Cruise, John Gilmore and Brian Reape (Moy Davitts) wore the school’s colours on many occasions.