Late Late Show as Compassion steals victory

By Brian Roberts

Our Lady of Compassion confirmed their place among the GAA greats when they clinched their 2nd major Primary School Gaelic football title in as many weeks at Pairc Na h’Eireann recently.
The small primary school from Olton in the West Midlands left it late against St. Dunstan’s of Kings Heath Birmingham to add the All-Britain Primary Schools title to their recent BCSSA Cup win. The two close rivals who met in last months BCSSA final were level after full time and entered a nail biting period of extra time. With Compassion’s Jack Grelish, Niall Duffy, and Elliott Tolster and St. Dunstan’s Ryan Bennett, Declan Staunton and Ryan Montieth all in electric form for much of the game, little separated the two teams. In the dying moments Compassion clinched the game to give the Olton school a 18-17 point victory.
The win completes a remarkable 12 months of Gaelic sports in Our Lady of Compassion School which saw them win three regional and national trophies. The sport was first introduced in the school by the Warwickshire Schools GAA with the help of South African native and school teacher Mrs Griffiths. Today, it is WSGAA coach Eoin O’ Lusaigh and school teacher Miss Cassidy who are behind a drive to get more young people playing Gaelic football in Olton. The school, now boast a strong link with local GAA club John Mitchell’s. The backbone of the Mitchell’s under -12 team now includes Grelish, Duffy, Tolster, Matt Docherty and Charlie West. GAA fever can be seen all around the school with school receptionist Mrs Duffy regularly seen on the Gaelic football side-line cheering on Compassion and the Mitchell’s teams.
The All-Britain Shield final saw Birmingham rivals St. Bernard’s and St. Brigid’s come face to face. The game got off to a flying start with both teams pushing to victory. But it was the organized St. Bernard’s side led by Mr. Doyle who edged clear with outstanding displays by Angelo Cataldo and a young Nial Glennholmes-Walsh. St. Brigid’s players Paddy Skeritt and Michael Kenny, and an enthusiastic Mrs Corrigan on the side line could do little as St. Bernard’s won the All-Britain Shield title.