*St Flannan’s College celebrate after winning the Harty Cup. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
GAA officials have decided to conclude all All-Ireland post primary schools competitions thus ending the involvement of St Flannan’s College in the Croke Cup.
At the beginning of March, St Flannan’s College ended a fifteen year gap by winning the Dr Harty Cup title. The side captained by Clarecastle’s Cian Galvin and Conner Hegarty of Inagh/Kilnamona ensured St Flannan’s College remained the most decorated side in the competition by adding their twenty second title to stay top of the roll of honour list.
Indeed the final took place on the third time of asking. The original fixture was postponed due to inclement weather, the refixed game then had to be deferred 23 hours.
Following on from their provincial success, the side coached by Brendan Bugler and Kevin O’Grady overcame Kilkenny side, St Kieran’s College by three points to book their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
However the semi-final with St Raphael’s College scheduled for Monday March 16th never took place due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
On Friday, An Coiste Bainistíochta approved the recommendations of the CCCC which included not to conclude the All-Ireland series of all post primary competitions in the GAA. All remaining provincial campaigns will be concluded.
Representations had been made by the Post Primary School Council to the GAA for the remaining games to be completed but their request was not granted.
In correspondence to schools affected obtained by The Clare Echo, a spokesperson for the PPS Council outlined, “I understand that this decision is not what teams involved will have hoped for and it wasn’t the wish of the Post Primary School Council, but as we are a sub committee of Coistí Bainstí, we must adhere to the decision made”.
