Dynamic duo leading the way at both ends of the pitch

It is the final chapter in this particular story for Patrick Gaynor and Dean Casey.

With the pair of Leaving Certificate students hoping to help St. Nathy’s pass their final and biggest sporting exam, there is a sense of “now or never” for the Roscommon pair.

Despite the nerves that will accompany an All-Ireland final, Western Gaels goalkeeper Gaynor wants his side to embrace Saturday’s decider against Cnoc Mhuire Granard.

“You have to enjoy the fact that you are in an All-Ireland final. Obviously, there is a serious element around it as well. The whole squad is just looking forward to getting out to play another game of football,” he stated.

For Ballinameen’s Casey, St. Nathy’s journey has been about much more than the team’s collective effort. The Connacht-winning minor footballer from 2025 believes that families and clubs have created an environment for them to succeed.

“It is not just the effort inside the team. It is the effort put in by our family and locally around the town. We are getting great support from home and from the clubs. They are putting in a great effort,” the St. Nathy’s centre-forward agreed.

The St. Nathy’s management team of Ronan Brett, Colm Maye and Fr. Paul Kivlehan have laid the foundations for the school’s latest shot at All-Ireland glory, according to Gaynor.

“You have to credit them. They have put in serious effort. We have gone all over the place playing challenges. We were down in Clare and everything. They are giving up their evenings.

“I think Fr. Paul even had to move a few Masses for games, so there has been a serious commitment put in from all three of them. They are a credit to themselves and their families. They have been brilliant all year,” the Roscommon U-20 goalkeeper stated.

For both Casey and Gaynor, claiming All-Ireland glory would be the ultimate way for them to sign off from their schools’ football journey.

“It would be massive. It would be great to write our own bit of history in the school. It hasn’t been done for 26 years, so it would be mighty and, please God, we’ll do it,” Casey noted.

“It would mean the world to us. Our goal was to win Connacht. If we could go that step further and win an All-Ireland title, it would be a serious achievement for the area. It would cement our place in the school’s history. It would be unreal,” Gaynor concluded.