Darragh McCabe winner of the solo singing competition from Mullingar Shamrocks, receiving the Leinster cup from Cathaoirleach Scór Laighean Catherine Daly and Chairperson of Leinster GAA Derek Kent.

Three titles for Westmeath at Leinster Scór na nÓg final

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All roads led to Wexford on Sunday as loyal Scór supporters travelled to Clonroche, where eight newly crowned Westmeath champions took to the stage in pursuit of provincial honours and a coveted place in the All-Ireland final. After all county winners advanced from the semi-final held in The Downs a fortnight earlier, hopes were high in the Lake County camp.

The day began with the Ballinagore quiz team of Deirdre O’Brien, Sinéad O’Brien, Aoife O’Brien and Tadhg Seery taking centre stage. Continuing the impressive form that secured them their county title, they finished second behind Dublin in the table quiz round.

Advancing to the top three for the on-stage final, they again matched Dublin before being edged out for second place after a tie-breaker. Despite narrowly missing provincial glory, Ballinagore qualified for the All-Ireland final, where they will represent Leinster alongside Dublin and Offaly, an outstanding achievement for the young team, who overcame ten other opponents.

Opening the stage competitions were the St Loman’s Ladies figure dancers, who delivered a polished performance of the ‘Cross Reel’. The eight-member team of Aisling McCormack, Julia Szyndzielorz, Cara Murphy, Caoimhe Kevlihan, Ellen Gallagher, Molly-Rose Doyle, Brooke Donoghue and Béibhínn Scally, represented their club with pride but were ultimately edged out by a strong Wexford entry.

In Solo Singing, Darragh McCabe of Mullingar Shamrocks successfully defended the title he won last year, impressing judges with a superb rendition of “The Valley of Knockeneure”. His back-to-back provincial wins send him to Killarney next month full of confidence, as he will hope to build on his experience to challenge for a national title.

In the second solo competition, Recitation/Storytelling, St Loman’s representative Eoghan McKenna captured his first Leinster crown with a hugely entertaining performance of ‘The Cross-Eyed Monaghan Hurler’, leaving the audience in stitches and booking his debut All-Ireland appearance. Eoghan and Darragh’s victories marked a proud moment for the two Mullingar clubs.

Moate All Whites followed in the Ballad Group competition, performing beautiful versions of ‘Sweet Lough Nea’ and ‘May the Road Rise to Meet You’. Despite the excellent showing from reigning champions Corey Browne, Lucy Keane, Caoimhe Brady, Hannah Higgins and Hannah Martin, they were narrowly pipped by Wexford.

After the interval, The Downs took to the stage in the Novelty Act with their piece entitled ‘Úna’s Plan’, a humorous retelling of the Fionn Mac Cumhaill story. Naomi Geoghegan, Orla O’Connell, Aoibhinn Smyth, Isabelle Smyth, Ronan Murtagh, Tom O’Connell and Senan O’Neill, guided by Noel Lynam and Trudie Rowan, delivered a lively performance but finished just behind another strong Wexford act in a tight contest.

Ballinagore returned to the spotlight in the Instrumental Music competition. Therese Daly, Louise Maxwell, Sinéad O’Brien, Thomas Reynolds and John Reynolds impressed with their renditions of ‘The Hawthorn Hedge’ and ‘The Aughamore Reel’, earning rapturous applause. In their first Leinster final, they produced a superb showing, though the title ultimately went to Wexford.

Closing out the evening were the Bunbrosna Ladies Set Dancers, who lifted the hall with two figures of the ‘Paris Set’. Their high-energy, precision display put them top of the pile and secured Westmeath’s third Leinster title of the day. Their victory capped a proud outing for the county, and they will join Eoghan, Darragh and the Ballinagore quiz team at the All-Ireland finals.

Scór Iarmhí expressed immense pride in all competitors, each of whom represented their clubs and county with distinction. With spirits high, the Lake County now looks ahead to the All-Ireland finals in the INEC, Killarney, on Saturday January 24, in the hope of adding further honours.

Full results

Figure Dancing: Ballyhogue, Wexford Solo Singing: Darragh McCabe, Mullingar Shamrocks

Recitation/Storytelling: Eoghan McKenna, St. Loman’s Ballad Group: Bannow/Ballymitty, Wexford Quiz Time: 1) Cumann Uí Dhuibhir, Dublin 2) Ballinagore, Westmeath 3) Edenderry, Offaly Novelty Act: Ballyoughter, Wexford Instrumental Music: Bannow Ballymitty, Wexford Set Dancing: Bunbrosna

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